Crystal River Cruises named classical music talent show producer Mariann
Peller godmother of the Crystal Ravel, the company's fourth Rhine-class river ship.
The Budapest-born Peller is known for producing "Virtuosos,"
the hit Hungarian classical music talent show, as well as for founding the
Young Virtuosos Foundation, which promotes the study of classical music for
young artists. Opera tenor star Placido Domingo and James Corden from "The
Late Late Show with James Corden" are partnering with Peller to bring the
show to the U.S. and U.K. markets.
Mariann Peller
The Crystal Ravel will be named in Budapest on July 11
during a ceremony that will include a performance by Young Virtuosos artists.
The event will take place during the ship's July 5 sailing from Vienna, and
guests will be invited to participate in the festivities. Crystal will broadcast
the ceremony via Facebook Live on Crystal Cruises' Facebook page.
"It is an honor to be a part of this momentous occasion
and to join the Crystal Family, as we share a passion for exploring and
celebrating the cultural treasures of Europe and sharing those experiences with
people around the world," Peller said in a statement. "Crystal ships
and voyages are lauded for fine nuances and a superb standard of excellence,
which is the distinction of a masterpiece of any kind."
Crystal CEO Tom Wolber stated that Peller's passion for the
classical arts "is the perfect complement to the spirit of the Crystal
River experience."
Crystal will make a donation to the Young Virtuosos Foundation,
which supports the preservation of the region's musical heritage.
The 106-passenger Crystal Ravel sails itineraries between
Budapest, Basel, Vienna and Nuremburg along the Danube and Rhine rivers,
visiting destinations in Hungary, Austria, Germany, Switzerland and Slovakia.