(Credit: © Michael Pöhn)

Upon the initiative of the celebrated Hungarian-Austrian soprano Ildikó Raimondi, The Society of Friends of the Young Artists has been founded.

Raimondi is a professor of solo singing at the Mozarteum in Salzburg, and has been a longtime member of the ensemble of the Wiener Staatsoper. The soprano has also appeared on the biggest world stages, including the Deutsche Oper Berlin, the Semperoper Dresden, the Bayerische Staatsoper, and the Opernhaus Zürich, among others.

Raimondi has been joined by famed bass Günther Groissböck on the project. The newly founded society has been also supported by the President of the Association of Patrons of the Salzburg Easter Festival Michael Berger-Sandhofer, and the Austrian gallerist Thaddaeus Ropac, among others.

“The current COVID-19 pandemic is particularly difficult for the work environment of the young artists,” said Raimondi in a press statement. “Young artists should begin their careers after finishing their education, and it is the desire of my heart to encourage and support them,” added Raimondi.

Young artists will be supported by the association in various ways, receiving grants as well as personal advice and mentoring.