On April 22nd & 23rd, 34 enthusiastic AEAA members coming from 10 different countries gathered in the Wiener Konzerthaus, for very creative, fruitful discussions and workshops, formal and informal meetings.
We are glad, proud and grateful that the French Ambassador in Vienna, Mr Gilles Pécout, was highly interested in getting to know the AEAA better and decided to open the doors of the magnificent French Embassy in Vienna for an unforgettable moment of music, conviviality and fraternity. Mr Pécout expressed his full solidarity with us, with our profession and with the world of classical music that all members of our Association defend so passionately. Merci beaucoup, Monsieur l’Ambassadeur, for your kindness, your curiosity, your open-mindedness, your generosity and your verve!
We also would like to thank the entire team of the French Institute in Vienna, starting with its director, Mr Philippe Sutter, its cultural attaché and head of communication, Mr Jean-François Roseau, as well as the director’s assistant, Mrs Claudia Cornez, for their great cooperation in the organization of this event.
We are no less glad, proud and grateful that we had a very special guest joining us at the French Embassy: Mrs Veronica Kaup-Hasler, Executive City Councillor for Cultural Affairs and Science in Vienna. Mrs Kaup-Hasler is a true music lover, a strong supporter of living art and musical institutions and we know that she did everything possible in order to enable our ecosystem (and the chain of solidarity: musical institutions-artists-agents) to survive during the pandemic. Mrs Kaup-Hasler expressed her full solidarity with our profession not only today but also in the future, insisting how essential we are in order to make music happen.
The reception generously offered by the French Embassy in Austria to the AEAA was also an opportunity for us to invite colleagues and friends from partner associations such as International Artist Managers' Association (IAMA), OMAI, Ariacs, Association Française des Agents Artistiques - AFAA, Deutschsprachige Opern- und Konzertagenturen (DOKA) as well as concert and opera directors from all over Austria, a great opportunity to remind that we are in the same boat, fighting for the same cause and that it is therefore more than ever a necessity to be in solidarity with each other and to work together, hand in hand.
Last but not least, we would like to warmly thank the amazing Auner Quartett who accepted to perform for us at the French Embassy. We thought it essential to be able to offer a musical moment on this occasion since music and musicians are the essence of our professional commitment. And the Auner Quartett played amazingly well, for the greatest joy of everyone attending.
Thank you everyone for joining us!