Viking Cruises has announced new partnerships that will continue the cruise line’s focus on cultural enrichment.
Viking has signed on to sponsor the United States tour of the acclaimed English boys choir, LIBERA, and the Ballet Sun Valley international festival this summer. The company has also extended its sponsorship of the Los Angeles Philharmonic at The Hollywood Bowl for the fifth consecutive season. These new partnerships build on Viking’s commitment to drive cultural insight and personal enrichment, with current partners that include National Geographic’s “Genius,” PBS’ MASTERPIECE, TED, The Metropolitan Opera, BBC, Highclere Castle, RHS Chelsea Flower Show, Oslo’s Munch Museum, St. Petersburg’s Mariinsky Theatre, among others.
Celebrating 20 years of innovation and growth in 2017, Viking’s summer of cultural programming arrives on the heels of high acclaim for its immersive destination-focused offerings, having recently been named a #1 Ocean Cruise Line and one of the Best River Cruise Lines by Travel + Leisure readers in the 2017 World’s Best Awards. Continuing its commitment to cultural exploration both onboard and off board, Viking’s summer sponsorships include:
LIBERA Boys Choir U.S. Tour: In celebration of their new album Hope, the acclaimed English boys choir that participated in the 2016 christening of Viking Sea in London, is currently on a Viking-sponsored five-city U.S. tour. Three-time Classical BRIT nominees, LIBERA is among the top selling classical artists worldwide in countries including the United States, United Kingdom, Japan, South Korea and the Philippines, and their work holds a place alongside major artists such as Bocelli. Viking Founder and Chairman Torstein Hagen, a supporter of classical music in its many forms, and a group of Viking colleagues from its headquarters, recently attended the choir’s performance in Westlake Village, Calif.
Ballet Sun Valley Summer Festival, featuring Xander Parish: Viking is the lead sponsor of the Ballet Sun Valley international festival, which runs August 21-24 and features dancers from six of the world’s leading ballet companies, including the American Ballet Theatre and London’s Royal Ballet. This unique festival was curated by Sun Valley-native and American Ballet Theatre dancer, Isabella Boylston, and will showcase a world premiere by emerging choreographer Gemma Bond, whose piece was inspired by the solar eclipse happening the day before the first performance.
Los Angeles Philharmonic at The Hollywood Bowl: For the fifth consecutive year, Viking is sponsoring six Los Angeles Philharmonic concerts at their historic summer home, The Hollywood Bowl. The Viking concert series, beginning August 10, features music by European composers whose home countries are destinations on many of Viking’s river and ocean cruise itineraries, including Antonio Vivaldi (Italy), Pyotr Tchaikovsky (Russia), Wolfgang Mozart (Austria), Ludwig van Beethoven (Germany), and Johann Sebastian Bach (Germany).
Karine Hagen, Senior Vice President of Viking Cruises, gave the following statement about these new partnerships with Viking: “Viking’s commitment to cultural exploration extends far beyond the walls of our ships. One of the best ways to explore a destination – whether at home or abroad – is through its music and cultural institutions. We are proud to support world renowned organizations, such as the Libera Boys Choir, Ballet Sun Valley and The Los Angeles Philharmonic, that align with our goal to create special connections between travelers and the cultures of the world.”
Viking currently operates a fleet of three cruise ocean cruise ships to go along with 59 river ships.
