A musical bridge between Delta Blues and classical music

What had been heralded as a "once-in-a-lifetime" experience truly exceeded all expectations on Friday evening. Under the open sky and against the sold-out, breathtaking backdrop of Lake Wolfgang, high-profile guests were treated to a deeply moving musical spectacle. The Delta Blues legends Anthony “Big A” Sherrod and Jacqueline “Jaxx” Nassar captivated the audience with their distinctive voices and virtuoso guitar playing. They were supported by the Big Island Orchestra under the direction of renowned conductor and arranger Martin Gellner, who had already gained significant recognition for his work on "Hollywood in Vienna" by Hans Zimmer.

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Songs from Eric Clapton, B.B. King, to Frank Sinatra on the Waterstage

The evening featured songs by Eric Clapton, B.B. King, Joe Cocker, Frank Sinatra, and many other legends of the international music scene. The combination of the profound, melancholic sounds of the blues and the majestic power of a symphony orchestra created a soundscape that captivated the audience from the first to the last minute. Many of the international guests of the Living Legends

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Awards during the Award Gala

The 2024 award recipients included Markus Bucher, CEO of Pilatus Aircraft, who was honored with the Dr. Sam B. Williams Technology Award , and Dieter Morszeck, founder of Rimowa and owner of WACO Aircraft, who received the Eren Ozmen Entrepreneur of the Year Award . The Aviation Industry Leader Award went to Gilles Labbé, a leading supplier in the international jet industry. A special honor was bestowed upon Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury , who was recognized as the Lifetime Aviation Industry Leader . Steve Varsano of The Jet Business received the Kenn Ricci Lifetime Aviation Entrepreneur Award.

Peter Besenyei, known as a pioneer of the Red Bull Air Race , Ben Chin, owner of Diamond Aircraft, Elie Zelouf of Jet Aviation and Ivo Boscarol of Pipistrel were inducted into the Hall of Fame and can now call themselves “Living Legends of Aviation” . Particularly honored was Red Bull pilot Dario Costa, who made history on September 4, 2021, by flying through two tunnels in Istanbul and thereby etching his name in the Book of Records. For this outstanding achievement, he received the Bob Hoover Freedom of Flight Award. The audience could experience his great passion for flying on Saturday at the Red-Carpet Opening Show experience above Lake Wolfgang. There, he also put on an impressive flight demonstration together with a P-51D Mustang from the Flying Bulls, the most famous aircraft of the award's namesake Bob Hoover.

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Morgan Freeman's Love for the Blues

Morgan Freeman, whose love for Delta Blues is globally known through the Ground Zero Blues Club in Clarksdale, Mississippi, which he co-owns, fulfilled a long-cherished dream with "The Symphonic Blues Experience" a long-cherished dream. Since the actor first visited scalaria in summer 2022 as part of the Living Legends of Aviation Awards Europe at scalaria, a friendly connection has developed between the actor and the Gastberger family's event resort. A friendship that Eric Meier expressed before the concert began by bestowing Simone and Peter Gastberger and scalaria COO Humberto Schenk honorary blues names.

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“I think this is music that comes straight from the soul, it's simply torn from you. You can literally feel it singing from deep within."
- Morgan Freeman

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An unforgettable evening on Lake Wolfgang

The symphonic production, coupled with the spectacular show by the scalaria event team, which visually brought the evening to life, along with the Flying Bulls, the Red Bull Blanix, and HSV Red Bull Salzburg, created an overall experience that will long be remembered by all participants and guests.

“This music has the power to unite people worldwide. Making such sounds even grander in open-air productions is scalaria's passion. It was a special pleasure for us to bring this extraordinary concept by Eric Meier and Morgan Freeman to life on our waterstage.”
- Humberto Schenk, scalaria COO‍