World Premiere of Robert Wilson’s Watch Launch Gala for Montblanc

9 April 2008, Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (SIHH) in Geneva: Montblanc’s celebration of the first Montblanc Chronograph with its own in-house movement: “Montblanc Star Nicolas Rieussec Monopusher Chronograph”

A glamorous evening Gala and spectacular show by Robert Wilson – the world premiere of the “Montblanc Star Nicolas Rieussec Monopusher Chronograph” takes place on 9 April at the SIHH 2008. In honour of the new chronograph with the first ever in-house manufactured Montblanc watch movement, theatre visionary Robert Wilson will stage a performance entitled “Writing Time”. World renowned composer Philip Glass will supply the music and a very special male celebrity surprise guest from Hollywood’s A-list actors will present this genuine “time writer” in the presence of more than 1,000 selected VIP guests.

“Montblanc Star Nicolas Rieussec Monopusher Chronograph” The world premiere of the first Montblanc handcrafted watch movement in a chronograph of historical significance:

Montblanc brand ambassador Eva Green, Claudia Schiffer, Dita von Teese, Joan Collins, Christopher Lee and Paulo Coelho, all friends of Montblanc, are excitedly looking forward to attend the premiere of the Montblanc Star Nicolas Rieussec Monopusher Chronograph” on 9 April at the SIHH 2008 in Geneva. This is the celebration of a timepiece that represents a milestone in the success story of Montblanc watchmaking: because what is ‘ticking’ inside this masterpiece has something that only a few watch manufacturers offer: a specially constructed calibre in all its individual parts, a masterpiece of craftsmanship by the Montblanc company. In honour of the first watch movement to bear the name Montblanc, the luxury brand has created a chronograph of historical significance. This is dedicated to the inventor of the chronograph mechanism: Nicolas Rieussec. In 1821 Rieussec developed a watch with rotating dials in which an ink marker attached to the fixed index marked the time. This invention was so ingenious that it gave the chronograph its name: “chronos” for “time” and “graphein” for “writing”. The principle of two rotating discs provided the inspiration for the new Montblanc Star Nicolas Rieussec Monopusher Chronograph, a strictly limited masterpiece of traditional Swiss watchmaking with a twin barrels driven 72 hours power reserve which is visible through the sapphire crystal base.

Playing with visions: Robert Wilson’s show “Writing Time” with music by Philip Glass

On the evening of 9 April 2008 the lights in the glamourous event location will be dimmed and in the presence of internatonal celebrities from media, culture and economics, Lutz Bethge, CEO Montblanc International, will announce Robert Wilson’s exceptional production “Writing Time”.Robert Wilson – visionary, theatre director, designer and visual artist – developed and staged a spectacle for the Montblanc world premiere of the Star Nicolas Rieussec Monopusher Chronograph. Both the watch and Wilson’s spectacle break down conventional barriers and redefine their individual craft in a revolutionary way. For many years Robert Wilson has been a close friend of Montblanc. Since the 90ies he served several times as a jurymember of the Montblanc de la Culture Award of Art Patronage. Recently Montblanc celebrated Robert Wilson’s 65th birthday and the premiere of the documentary ‘Absolute Wilson’ with an exclusive dinner party in Hamburg. The watch launch event in Geneva will be Robert Wilson’s first staging of an original performance event for Montblanc International. The superb show will feature the music of influential contemporary composer Philip Glass, a close friend of Robert Wilson. His transcendent compositions possesses something trance-like that blurs the borders between dreaming and waking. As in his first cooperation with Robert Wilson, the opera “Einstein on the Beach” which premiered 1976, the music of the Montblanc show “Writing Time” is filled with repeating sound patterns which constantly change in terms of instrumentation and complexity.

A premiere event of highlights in honour of the Montblanc Star Nicolas Rieussec Monopusher Chronograph

When the final lights and sounds of “Writing Time” are over, the stage will clear for an appearance by a surprise Hollywood star, one of Hollywood’s leading men. Then comes the celebratory presentation of the new Montblanc Star Nicolas Rieussec Monopusher Chronograph with its very first Montblanc in-house manufactured movement. As Montblanc is known for its thrilling and glamorous gala events. This event will be no exception with delicious food, surprising music acts, great DJs and exciting guests. An unforgettable evening is guaranteed.

Writing Time - Robert Wilson's Watch Launch Gala Hosted by Montblanc
GENEVA - APRIL 09: Top model Claudia Schiffer, and Lutz Bethge , Montblanc International CEO, Norbert Platt, CEO Group Richemont ,Burlesque artist Dita von Teese , Rafael Medina , Sylvie van der, Rafael Medina , attends the 'Writing Time', Robert Wilson's watch launch gala hosted by Montblanc during the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie at the Geneva Palaexpo on April 9, 2008 in Geneva, Switzerland. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images for Montblanc)

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