Right notes between Parmigiani Fleurier and The Montreux Jazz Festival 2011
By MyWatch
2011 is a year of major celebrations. First, the 45thanniversary of the Montreux Jazz Festival, which symbolises a commitment on a different scale in terms of musical quality, and second the fifth anniversary of an exceptional adventure: that of Parmigiani Fleurier, main sponsor of the event and sole watchmaking partner of the festival.
On 10th January, Parmigiani reaffirmed its commitment to the Montreux Jazz Festival by renewing the contract linking the watchmaking brand to the event.
Moving towards a closer relationship with the public, this musical partnership allows Parmigiani Fleurier to continue what it has already started: creating an accessible and intelligible perception of its image and that of Swiss luxury watchmaking in the minds of the largest possible number of people.
PARMIGIANI ON THE SITE OF THE MONTREUX JAZZ FESTIVAL
Parmigiani is involved with the Montreux Jazz Festival on many levels. In addition to its main partnership for the sixteen-day festival and its presence in the VIP area reserved for the main sponsors for the entire programme, Parmigiani have benefit from a large meeting point at the main entrance, thanks to a general rearrangement of the site. This area display the time in the form of an iconic Kalpa watch.
For the first time this year, Parmigiani is supporting the festival as official sponsor of Montreux Jazz TV, the video promotion label of the Montreux Jazz Festival. This TV broadcast aims to let the general public share in the “Montreux experience” and to strengthen its connections with the event.
Parmigiani’s hot air balloon and catamaran, both in the brand colours, have liven up the sky and lake in Montreux.
PARMIGIANI SUPPORTS AND PROMOTES THE YOUNG TALENTS OF THE FUTURE
This year, the brand is debuting a major collaboration with Fondation2 which promotes and encourages creative activities fostering cultural exchange.
Ready to take on the challenge of youth, Parmigiani is joining Claude Nobs in supporting the “PARMIGIANI SOLO PIANO COMPETITION”.
The only contest of this kind, organised by Claude Nobs and running in parallel with the festival since 1999, the competition brings together the best hopes for the future of music. This year, around forty professional young jazz pianists aged under 30, and from about twenty countries, have signed up. The fifteen semi-finalists selected are invited to play at Montreux during the festival. A veritable pool of talent, the competition can already count among previous entrants several artists who have now achieved worldwide recognition. The first prize offers an international springboard for the winner’s career: the chance to record an album and perform on a number of stages. In line with its desire to support young talents – a tradition dating back many years in the watchmaking world, demonstrated by its involvement in training apprentices within its manufacture – Parmigiani is happy to be able to contribute to the success of these piano virtuosos. On this special occasion, the competition winner will be awarded the Parmigiani Kalpa watch specially created for the Montreux Jazz Festival 2011.
RELAYING THE SPIRIT OF THE MONTREUX JAZZ FESTIVAL A partner since the beginning of the Montreux Jazz Cafés- unique places in the world where music enthusiasts and lovers of fine food can feel the spirit and see and hear the highlights of the Montreux Jazz Festival – Parmigiani has also confirmed its continued presence in the Montreux Jazz Cafés at Geneva and Sydney international airports, as well as its support for future openings which are already scheduled.
THE KALPA MJF 2011 MODEL: CREATED EXCLUSIVELY BY PARMIGIANI FOR THE FESTIVAL.
Once again this year, legendary artists have awarded the exclusive Parmigiani model by Claude Nobs, in tribute to their musical talent.
The creation of a bespoke limited edition for the Montreux Jazz Festival is now a tradition which is particularly dear to Parmigiani’s heart. The 2011 edition was inspired by the festival poster created this year by Francis Baudevin. The dial picks up one of the contemporary Swiss artist’s favourite themes: the abstract geometric shape of one’s surroundings. Parmigiani chose to play with this theme using a monochrome palette. The Kalpa Grande or XL automatic watch (Calibre PF 331) is therefore available in two versions, one with a silvered dial and the other with a graphite dial. On the back of the steel model, the sapphire open case-back is marked with the Montreux Jazz Festival logo.
