Of Rings and Cakes
The design of the Salzburg Festival Ring, created by the House of Köchert to mark the Salzburg Festival’s 100th anniversary in 2020, was inspired by Jakob Adlhart’s mask sculpture at the entrance to the Großes Festspielhaus (Great Festival Hall). Both are symbolised by the classical masks of comedy and tragedy. For 2025, the ring was awarded to the outstanding actor, Tobias Moretti.
This is a noteworthy distinction because, until recently, mainly the leading ladies of Jedermannhad been honoured: Caroline Peters, Verena Altenberger, Valerie Pachner, Deleila Piasko and the Grande Festspiel Dame, Helga Rabl-Stadler, were the ring recipients after it was created in 2020. However, following Philipp Hochmair’s ring award in 2024, we felt it was right to recognise another talented gentleman for 2025; Tobias Moretti starred in the Festival’s classic production of Jedermann from 2017 to 2020. The award ceremony took place in August at Schloss Fuschl with glorious weather providing an ideal backdrop. Many loyal customers and friends of the House, including Verena Altenberger, prima ballerina Liudmila Konovalova and actress Ursula Strauss, were on hand to congratulate and celebrate.
Schloss Fuschl, where the renowned Sissi movies were filmed – and therefore forever associated with A. E. Köchert through our famous Sisi Stars, the diamond stars of Empress Elisabeth – has always been a bastion of inspirational creativity. For this occasion, the internationally acclaimed cake artist, Sophia Stolz, designed a cake sculpture radiantly adorned with Sisi stars. A work of magnificent beauty! (And we’re sure that those who tasted it were just as mesmerised!)
Whether described as the “wild Viennese” or even “cake bravado meets Hollywood glam”, Sophie Stolz has worked from New York to Paris to Milan and for iconic names such as Bulgari, Schiaparelli and Hermès. She’s even created entire cake rooms!
Her Instagram account @stolzes is a cornucopia of creative ideas. So if you’re curious about who baked birthday cakes for Marina Abramović and Giorgio Armani, have a look at this absolute feast for the eyes!