MTF provides an exclusive report on Chopard's 150th Anniversary celebration in Basel, a grand event combining history, philanthropy, and artistic performance. The article captures the essence of the Scheufele family's gratitude and their commitment to giving back, featuring a charity concert with opera maestro Jose Carreras and flamenco dancer Sara Baras.

Chopard 150th Anniversary: From the History to the Basel Party

Basel - 20 March 2010

We've read the history of Chopard in a posting on this forum; so now let's go (live) to the celebratory party in Basel with performances by the Spanish opera maestro Jose Carreras, and the best lady flamenco dancer of this generation - Ms Sara Baras. The Scheufele family held a charity concert at the Basel Musical Theatre, to both celebrate the 150th Anniversary and 'give back' as a responsible corporation. The beneficiary is the Leukaemia Foundation set up by Mr Carreras, himself a survivor of the disease.

The audience members were from more than 100 countries and even though Mr Karl-Friedrich Scheufele (KFS) opened his speech with greetings in at least 6 languages that I recognised (including some Asian ones), he had to revert to English.

On behalf of his sister Caroline, KFS spoke for both Co-Presidents to thank their parents Karl and Karin for taking Chopard forward from the last Chopard owner to what it is today, when another generation is in the 'business'. The Chopard family was not forgotten as KFS described the moment when his father, Karl III (then only 25 years old) shook hands with the elderly Paul-Andre Chopard, that handed over the torch. It was important to the family that they shared the moment with friends, clients, dealers, business partners, and staff members that have supported the brand for decades.

The concert was truly a Spanish Extravaganza as both artistes melded their genres into a story of love, passion, and loyalty, constant through time. Those of us who have heard Senor Carreras before, commented that he seemed to have extracted something more than extraordinary from his core than we remembered before. Perhaps it was the mutual love and respect that the Carreras and Scheufele families have for each other that sparked this memorable incandescence? In full flight, Senor Carreras ascended to his peak of power, tone and control as he projected to the angels' seats in the theatre.

Ms Baras and her troupe held us breathless as the audience forgot to either inhale or exhale, at times. Their dramatic flamenco was not traditional but the better for it, as we luxuriated to the toque (guitar), cante (song) and baile (dance) of their forms. It was only during the relatively calm periods of palmas (hand clapping) that we could breath again, only to be stunned by razor scythes of zapateado (feet stomping). I felt priviledged to have been in the audience as Ms Baras will start a 2-year break from perfoming at the end of the month!

We were not allowed to take photos of the performance at the request of the organisers but please share the audience applause, standing ovations and family joy as it ended whilst the party started!

Caroline Scheufele thanking the performers, her 'Mummy' and audience

Maestro Carreras had just sung an Italian song in tribute to Karin Scheufele, that was not in the programme. As he said, it would not be a complete performance by an operatic tenor until at least one song was in Italian!

Karl-Friedrich, Christine Scheufele, Sara Baras and Caroline Scheufele

BEFORE: Posing for the regular photographers

AFTER: Posing for PuristS !   

150th Anniversary Animal Collection

Posing for regular photographers

Posing for PuristS

Co-Presidents and Guest

Penguins Everywhere

Birthday Girl dancing to the Chopard Band:  check out the chocolate cake they brought out

Regards,

MTF (Exhausted of Basel)