Large Medal of Service to the Province of Salzburg

The "Large Medal of Service to the Province of Salzburg" was awarded by Governor Dr. Wilfried Haslauer to the following orchestra members: Prof. Günter Federsel, Christian Frohn, Martin Kubik, Raimund Lissy, Herbert Mayr, Harald Müller, Wolf-Dieter Rath and Prof. René Staar. Due to work schedules, this event took place early on the morning of August 7th in the Chiemseehof. Among those present was the President of the Salzburg Festival, Dr. Helga Rabl-Stadler.

The musical backdrop for the celebration contained a particularly unusual note, with compositions by one of the honored recipients being performed. The opening thus consisted of two pieces by René Staar, "Erinnerungen an Kunitachi" and "Nordische Spielmänner". The event was concluded with an adaptation of the two duets of  Papageno-Papagena from the "Magic Flute" arranged for four violins by Les Quatre violons. René Staar, Raimund Lissy, Martin Kubik and Vice-Chairman Alexander Steinberger performed these three works.

At this presentation our long-term Chairman Prof. Dr. Clemens Hellsberg was presented with the so-called "Ehrenbecher" of the Province of Salzburg by the Governor. Shortly there afterwards on August 24 in the Patrons Lounge of the Festival Hall, our retiring Business Manager, Dr. Dieter Flury, was also honored with the "Ehrenbecher" award. This time Dr. Brigitta Pallauf, President of the Salzburg Parliament, with Frau Dr. Helga Rabl-Stadler also in attendance, presided in the presentation of this special acknowledgement for service on behalf of the Province of Salzburg.