FESTIVALS
IMG Artists is the first to create the concept of the lifestyle festival. We think celebrating all of the fine arts in life is essential; be it music, dance, visual art, culinary art and wine making. For some of our festivals, we celebrate them all at the same time. Our festival work, as diverse as the events themselves, now reaches across the globe including the United States, Europe, the Middle East and Asia.
PAST FESTIVALS
Abu Dhabi Festival
Abu Dhabi, U.A.E.
Abu Dhabi Festival is organized by the Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation. The Festival is the UAE’s foremost celebration of art and culture bringing together the greatest musicians, performers and artists from both the East and West in the heart of the United Arab Emirates. It seeks to reflect the determination of the capital to take the lead in cultural understanding. Showcasing classical artists, alongside visual art exhibitions, education programmes and community projects, the annual Abu Dhabi Festival is primarily based at the Emirates Palace in March and April and has attracted ever increasing audience numbers to enjoy outstanding performances and unique collaborations from some of the world’s greatest artists.
http://www.abudhabifestival.ae/en
Festival Del Sole, Napa Valley
Napa Valley, California
Set among lush rolling foothills and breathtaking vineyard landscapes every July, Napa Valley Festival del Sole offers a blend of world-class artistry, gourmet cuisine, fine wines, lifestyle programs and exceptional hospitality, in a unique celebration of the art of life. With more than 70 participating wineries and an extraordinary roster of artists and events each season, Napa Valley Festival del Sole provides a 10-day experience the New York Times calls a “feast for the senses.” Concerts take place in spectacular venues including a castle courtyard, a historic theater, and under the stars surrounded by vineyards, complemented by the legendary hospitality of Napa’s finest wineries and estates.
Performers have included Renee Fleming, Joshua Bell, the Emerson String Quartet, Chris Botti, David Foster and the Bolshoi Ballet, Chefs Thomas Keller, Michael Chiarello and Cat Cora, with sponsors Bank of America, Bentley, Chopard, Tiffany & Co, among many others.
http://festivaldelsole.org
Festival of the Arts, Boca
Boca Raton, Florida
Established in 2007, the Festival of the Arts BOCA was designed to promote the cultural arts and to enrich the quality of life of the residents of Boca Raton, North Broward and Palm Beach Counties. As conceived by its founders, the Festival is more than just programming; it is a unique way of bringing world class performers, authors and speakers to Boca which would be unattainable but for the special qualities of a serious cultural arts festival in a great wintertime destination.
The Festival celebrates the special quality of life in Boca Raton and Palm Beach County and the special qualities of Mizner Park, which was recently selected by the American Planning Association as one of the ten best urban places in the United States. The Festival is special, because of the venue, the season, the quality and diversity of its cultural offerings and because of the opportunity for young and old to celebrate the traditions of the great arts and to be exposed to the incredible diversity of the performing and literary arts, at the highest levels.
It will celebrate its 10th Anniversary in March 2016
IMG Artists is honoured to collaborate with the Centre for the Arts in aligning the impressive list of international artists who appear.
http://festivaloftheartsboca.org
Divino Tuscany
Florence, Italy
Divino Tuscany is a celebration of Tuscan winemaking excellence. The festival brings together the top winemakers from Tuscany who promote, share and demystify their top rated wines. James Suckling, former Senior Editor and European Bureau Chief of Wine Spectator and one of the world’s most influential wine critics, and IMG Artists, one of the leading producers of cultural and lifestyle festivals, including the Tuscan Sun Festival, collaborate on this signature event. Together, consulting with founding vintners from Marchesi Antinori, Frescobaldi, Mazzei, Ricasoli, Il Borro, Petrolo and Castello Banfi, Divino Tuscany offers a distinctive program that highlights premium wines in one of the most dramatic vinicultural regions of the world. The unique combination of wine, food, culture and history will be experienced throughout.
Plácido Domingo Festival
Plácido Domingo and IMG Artists present The Plácido Domingo Festival, the first ever festival to be curated by The Maestro. Famed for its rich operatic and cultural history, Spain’s Andalucían region will play host to a feast of performances featuring major stars of the operatic and concert stages including Vittorio Grigolo, Ana María Martínez, Joaquín Achúcarro, Ángel Romero, Nino Machaidze, Micaëla Oeste, Angel Blue, Pinchas Zukerman,Danielle de Niese, Nina Kotova and Ivo Pogorelich and the Orquesta Filarmónica de Málaga and Real Orquesta Sinfónica de Sevilla. The inaugural festival took place between 25th October – 3rd November, 2012, in Malaga and Seville. www.placidodomingofestival.com
Singapore Sun Festival
Singapore
The Singapore Sun Festival is one of three Sun Festival’s around the world, the others being Festival Del Sole, in Napa Valley, California and The Tuscan Sun Festival in Florence and Cortona, Italy. The Sun Festivals’ ethos is to inspire people to celebrate the art of life through world class performances featuring renowned artists from classical music, dance and stage and screen; fine food and wine; visual art; wellness programmes; and film.
From 2007 – 2010, 180,000 audience members from Singapore and around the world enjoyed more than 900 artists in 470 events including: Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, David Foster, Natalie Cole, Elvis Costello, José Carreras, Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra, Vienna Boys Choir, George Benson, Al Jarreau, Peter Cetera, Ruben Suddard and Jimmy Ong; actors Geoffrey Rush and Sharon Stone; the inspirational Deepak Chopra; and chefsCat Cora, Art Smith, Curtis Stone, Thierry Marx and Charlie Trotter.
The festival was named Singapore’s Leisure Event of the Year in both 2009 and 2010.
Tuscan Sun Festival
Cortona, Italy
The Tuscan Sun Festival is the original within the IMG Artist portfolio of festivals. The annual music and arts Festival offers an exciting program that includes not only world class concerts, but a daily program of events that explore fine arts, culinary & wine, wellness, and local culture & history. Previous participants have included Sofia Loren, Robert Redford, Anthony Hopkins, Sting and Trudie Styler and Jeremy Irons.
http://www.tuscansunfestival.com
Palm Springs Life Festival
Coachella Valley, California USA
IMG Artists and its Chairman Barrett Wissman today announced the launch of the first season of the Palm Springs Life Festival. This premier cultural arts and lifestyle event will take place in the Coachella Valley from March 20 – April 24, 2016. It is produced by Mr Wissman and presented by IMGA and Palm Springs Life magazine.
The inaugural festival will feature a stellar lineup of some of today’s top artists, fashion designers and culinary superstars. Some of the stars to appear include opera legends Plácido Domingo and Renée Fleming, violinists Midori and Sarah Chang, cellist Nina Kotova, pianist Jean Yves Thibaudet, guitarist Angel Romero, fashion designers Zandra Rhodes, Michael Costello and Marc Bouwer, and chefs Cat Cora, Gail Gand, and the Hearty Boys.
Executive producers Barrett Wissman and IMG Artists partnered with Palm Springs Life to present the first full season of the Festival in 2016, following a successful launch event in 2015. This year will bring together the Festival’s arts programming alongside two desert standouts, the Palm Desert Food & Wine festival and Fashion Week El Paseo, giving the Coachella Valley an unprecedented array of talent across multiple disciplines.
The Festival will open with a gala concert at The Show at Agua Caliente Casino Resort and Spa, featuring Plácido Domingo, Renée Fleming and the LA Opera Orchestra and will continue with an array of music, food and wine and fashion events over the following four weeks. Concerts and events will take place at multiple venues in the greater Palm Springs area including the new Rancho Mirage Amphitheater, The Helene Galen Auditorium at The Annenberg Center for Health Sciences at Eisenhower and the Gardens of El Paseo. The Festival will be capped off on April 23 and 24 with a signature event “In Vino Veritas” at The Ritz-Carlton Rancho Mirage. The event will feature the greatest Italian wines, wine makers and chefs of today and will be presented in partnership with and curated by Gambero Rosso, the leading Italian guide to the best wines and restaurants of Italy.
For full schedule and ticket information for the Palm Springs Life Festival, visit www.palmspringslifefestival.com.
EVENTS
IMG Artists is renowned for its ability to create some of the world’s leading cultural and entertainment events for its clients. Our team creates events that are specifically designed to promote our customer’s brand and deepen a client’s relationships with its stakeholders, customers and employees through world class entertainment and hospitality experiences. Events may be in the form of a unique concert, a full festival or a global touring strategy. The IMG Artists event team provides A-Z event management services and manages each project from conception to completion and review.
IMG Artists is the first to create the concept of the lifestyle festival. We think celebrating all of the fine arts in life is essential; be it music, dance, visual art, culinary art and wine making. For some of our festivals, we celebrate them all at the same time. Our festival work, as diverse as the events themselves, now reaches across the globe including the United States, Europe, the Middle East and Asia.
PAST EVENTS
Dubai 2014 World Record Fireworks Display
December 31st 2013
IMG Artists was appointed to produce Dubai’s 2014 Guinness World Record for Largest Fireworks Display. The monumental, once-in-a-life time event occurred at midnight during the city’s New Year’s Eve celebrations. IMGA appointed long-term collaborators Fireworks by Grucci to produce and design the display, which featured more than 450,000 fireworks launched from 400 locations and illuminated Dubai’s iconic landmarks, including the Islands of The World, The Palm Jumeirah and Atlantis the Palm.
The six-minute show required several months of detailed planning and involved 170 skilled pyro technicians and over 60 computer control systems used to fire with split-second accuracy. Television production company Sparkly Light captured the record breaking spectacular with multiple aerial camera positions. The event featured an original score by Dubai-based composer Matt Faddy, which was also broadcast live on radio.
The record-breaking event was broadcast as part of Dubai TV’s New Year’s Eve coverage and internationally. The show was also streamed live via a bespoke portal.
The Star Performing Arts Centre Opening
Singapore
The IMG Artists was commissioned to develop and produce the opening weekend festival for Singapore’s Star Performing Arts Centre. The three-day festival, held in November 2012, featured two spectacular gala concerts with international guest star performers, HITMAN: David Foster & Friends, pre- and post-concert parties, a VIP gala dinner, media launch and family fun day as well as tours, workshops events and performances by local and international artists.
The Star Performing Arts Centre is Singapore’s premiere venue. Its features include a 5,000 seat theatre, multi-purpose gallery and function hall, outdoor amphitheatre, rooftop reception area and a suite of additional function and conference rooms of various sizes. This unique complex’s dazzling architecture and design and superior facilities have become host to a wide range of events from top concerts to intimate community activities.
For more information, please visit thestar.sg
Divino Tuscany
Florence, Italy
Divino Tuscany is a celebration of the winemaking excellence of that region. The festival creates an opportunity for the top artisans of the region to share and demystify their wines with the attendees. IMG Artists joined forces with world renowned wine authority and critic James Suckling to create this unique event. With founding vintners including Marchesi Antinori, Frescobaldi, Mazzei, Ricasoli, Il Borro, Petrolo and Castello and Banfi, Divino Tuscany offers a distinctive programme that highlights premium wines, fine cuisine, local culture and history in one of the most dramatic vnicultural regions of the world.
For more information, please visit divinotuscany.com
Jackie Evancho’s Lincoln Center Debut
New York, USA
11-year old singing sensation Jackie Evancho presented her first live solo show in New York City on November 7, 2011, in a concert produced by IMG Artists at Lincoln Center’s Avery Fisher Hall. The event, featuring Jackie with a full symphony orchestra singing hits from her chart-topping Gold album Dream with Me, marked the historic debut of the youngest artist ever to present a solo concert in Lincoln Center’s history.
People’s Association Industry Gurus Series
Singapore
IMG Artists was commissioned by Singapore’s People’s Association to organise a new series of events called The Industry Gurus Series. The association’s goal was to reconnect with their PMETs (Professional, Managers, Executives and Technicians) audience. The first event in the series, The Key to Success, featured Wall Street guru Jim Rogers. Additional symposia included The On-line Revolution, Hotel Gurus of Asia and Achieving Happiness.
Live! Singapore
1 June 2011 – 3 June 2011, Singapore
This two year old event started in 2009 when IMG Artists was appointed by Koelnmesse to consult and programme Asia’s first global
performing arts conference and trade fair called “LIVE! Singapore”. LIVE! is now in its second year and is an international event for the performing arts and entertainment industry incorporating a ground-breaking conference, an international trade fair and acclaimed live performances. Held each year in June in Singapore, the event brings together over 100 leading performing artists, practitioners, managers, producers, agents and executives from around the world, for four days of interactive meetings, discussions, panels and live performances. It is a unique platform for global performing arts professionals and organizations to exchange knowledge, do business and network in the Asia Pacific market.
Visit Singapore Card Launch – Laura Fygi
Singapore
To celebrate the launch of Visa new elite credit card, IMG Artists organised for Laura Fygi to entertain 100 of Visa’s top clients at the
exclusive dinner at the St. Regis Hotel Singapore. Laura Fygi was perfectly suited to the audience and entertained with some of her most popular songs in French, English and Mandarin!
Standard Chartered Bank, Chinese New Years Celebrations
2 February 2011 – Singapore
In February 2011, IMG Artists helped to organise the Standard Chartered Bank Chinese New Year Celebrations at Clifford Pier in
Singapore. The event saw a crowd of 1000 top clients of the bank entertained by numerous activities during the spectacular evening including Jasmine Chen a jazz singer from Shanghai, Lion Dancers and a major New Year feast and much more.
Sharon Stone and Symphony of Stars
Singapore
IMG Artists produced a major fundraising event for the AIDS Foundation where a bespoke event called “Symphony of the Stars” was created featuring Celebrity Chef Curtis Stone, Film Star and AIDS Ambassador Sharon Stone and the Creole Choir of Cuba creating a spectacular evening of glitz and glamour and subsequently raising tens of thousands for the charity. The event raised over S$70,000 for the Aids Foundation Singapore.
Twin Spirits with Sting and Trudie Styler
Cortona, Tuscany
The Tuscan Sun Festival was delighted to welcome husband and wife team Sting and Trudie Styler as they appeared together in Twin
Spirits, the unique and intimate theatrical performance portraying the love between composer Robert Schumann and his pianist wife Clara Wieck. Conceived and directed by John Caird and produced by June Chichester,Twin Spirits was first performed at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden in London. Together with a chamber ensemble of players including Joshua Bell, Nina Kotova and Charles Dance, Twin Spirits was re-created at Teatro Signorelli for two performances during the Tuscan Sun Festival. Proceeds from the event went to the Rainforest Fund, Del Sole Foundation and Royal Opera House Education Fund.
UBS Hong Kong – The Tenor
11 March 2010 – Hong Kong
IMG Artists arranged for The Tenors to fly into Hong Kong from the USA to perform at the UBS annual Gala Dinner. Clients were
entertained by the four tenors who sang popular classics such as “Hallelujah” and “Remember Me”. Guests were delighted to be photographed with The Tenors and return home with a signed copy of their most recent CD.
Anthony Hopkins – Compositions and Paintings
Cortona, Tuscany
The Tuscan Sun Festival was delighted to welcome Academy Award-winning actor Sir Anthony Hopkins. In addition to the bounty of
notable films in which he has starred, Mr. Hopkins is also an accomplished painter and composer. His collection of paintings, Masques, was a major exhibit in the visual art component of the event. His orchestral compositions were featured during two concert performances in Cortona’s beautiful theatre, Teatro Signorelli.
VTB Bank International Monetary Fund Gala
11 October 2008 – Washington DC, USA
IMG Artists was asked to produce an entire day of events hosted by Russia’s VTB Bank at the IMF Conference in Washington, DC in 2008. The schedule included a conference and panel discussion hosted by a distinguished delegation including the Russian Minister of Finance, a gala five-course dinner, and private concert featuring the Moscow Soloists with conductor and violist Yuri Bashmet, flown in from Russia especially for the occasion.
Diana Krall Tour – Rolex
9 October 2008 – 23 October 2008, China
In October 2008, IMG Artists in conjunction with Diana Krall’s management team set up the Diana Krall Rolex tour of China. Consisting of three concerts in Hong Kong, Shanghai and Beijing, these special events were high profile branding opportunities for Rolex supported by an intensive media campaign. In addition 200 top Rolex clients were entertained at each event and had exclusive access to the artist both before the concerts and also at private post concert parties.
Bolshoi Ballet Gala
Hong Kong
The Bolshoi Ballet appeared for a special one-night-only Gala performance of the stunning ballet Spartacus in Hong Kong at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Grand Theatre. The performance was sponsored by Basic Element, a Russia-based diversified investment company with assets throughout the world, as an effort to raise funds for cultural exchange programmes between Russia and Hong Kong and to show-case the best of Russian art and culture. The entire event was coordinated and managed by IMG Artists.
EU Missions
1 March 2008 – 9 October 2009, Singapore
IMG Artists was appointed in 2008 by the EU missions in Singapore to consult, create and manage the world’s first European Cultural Season (an 8-month annual Season) in Singapore. Encompassing every field of European arts and culture – performing arts (music, theatre, and dance), visual arts, literature, film, culinary arts, fashion, design etc – the European Season aims to raise the profile and visibility of the European arts and cultural events in Singapore. With the help of IMG Aritsts, the establishment Encore! showcased a variety of arts and cultural presentations from Europe, all of which celebrate the diversity and vibrancy of the European Union
Divas in Beijing
1 January 2008 – China
The “Global Harmony: Divas in Beijing” concerts were co-produced by IMG Artists and mounted against the backdrop of the Beijing Olympic Games in August 2008 as part of the Games’ cultural events. A series of five concerts featuring a stellar line up of singers including Angela Gheorghiu, Renée Fleming, Sumi Jo, Dmitri Hvorostovsky, Ramon Vargas, Marcelo Giordano and Salvatore Licitra under the batons of Emmanuel Villaume and Nicola Luisoti, was staged at the amazing National Centre for Performing Arts Concert Hall (the Egg) and the historic Great Hall of the People.
Moscow Sretensky Monastery Choir World Tour
10 September 2007 – 20 December 2007, USA
To celebrate the re-unification of the Russian Orthodox Church, IMG Artists produced a world tour for the legendary 40-member Moscow Sretensky Monastery Choir, stopping in major Orthodox centers outside of Russia: New York, Washington, San Francisco, Chicago, Boston, London, Paris, Geneva, Berlin, Sydney and Melbourne. The tour was accompanied by a high-level delegation of clergy from the Russian Orthodox Church and a holy icon celebrating solemn religious ceremonies in churches along the route.
VIVA Foundation for Children with Cancer
1 January 2007 – 31 December 2007, Singapore
From 2007 to 2009 IMG Artists produced a major annual fundraising event for VIVA Foundation for Children with Cancer through a major annual Wine Auction and Gala Dinner and Concert. Each year celebrity chefs and some of the world’s top name performers including Chef Charlie Trotter and award winning Artist KD Lang and film star Geoffrey Rush graced the events. In only 3 years IMG Artists was able to raise over $1.5million dollars for the Singapore charity. IMG Artists also arranged for pop star Beyoncé to visit the Children’s hospital in Singapore and sing to the children.
José Carreas with the Malaysia Philharmonic Orchestra; Presented by BMW
8 November 2006, Malaysia
300 special guests from BMW were treated to VIP seats and a chance to meet the legendary José Carreras. IMG Artists produced this unique event for BMW, with José Carreras performing for the first time with the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra which was another milestone in the city’s cultural life.
Malaysia Formula One Grand Prix Concert
20 March 2005 – Malaysia
In 2005 IMG Artists produced the Malaysian Formula One Grand Prix Concert for Astro Broadcasting Company in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. IMG Artists sourced and contracted the artists and managed the event. Artists included Tata Young from Thailand and Status Quo from the UK and Shanty from Indonesia.
Canton International Summer Music Academy (CISMA), 2005 – 2007
14 February 2005 – China
IMG Artists was appointed to consult, manage and implement the CISMA project where hundreds of students got the opportunity to create music under the tuition of the world’s finest musicians including principal players from Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Philadelphia Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra, Tonhalle Orchestra and Montreal Symphony Orchestra. IMG Artists managed the entire project including the student auditions across Asia.
IBM’s Annual International Conference
22 April 2004 – Global
IMG Artists organised for violinist Joshua Bell to speak and perform at IBM’s Annual International Conference Honouring Patent Holders and Award Winners from IBM around the world. Joshua Bell provided a 50-minute presentation / performance focused on “Innovation”. Over the last five years, no event at IBM has received higher ratings than the Joshua Bell event.
Singapore Airlines Direct Flight to New York Launch
9 March 2004
Singapore Airlines asked IMG Artists to produce a spectacular event to celebrate the launch of their direct flight to New York from Singapore. IMG Artists organised the hit West End Show “The Rat Pack”, to perform “Live from New York” for one night only with Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr. & Dean Martin characters. Held at the Grand Ballroom of the Ritz-Carlton Singapore.