Cover Maxim Berin will bring Big Art Festival to Hong Kong on March 26 (Photo: courtesy of Berin)
Maxim Berin will bring Big Art Festival to Hong Kong on March 26 (Photo: courtesy of Berin)
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Over the past 25 years, Maxim Berin, the German-trained musician turned impresario, has built Berin Iglesias Art Holding into a major events company offering luxury entertainment—staging between 200 and 250 events annually around the world, from Monaco to Dubai, New York to Tashkent
On March 26, during Art Basel week, Maxim Berin will bring his signature Big Art Festival to Hong Kong for the first time, in partnership with Tatler Asia, at Rosewood Hong Kong. The gala dinner and musical evening will be, in his words, “a cultural convergence conceived with exceptional precision”. Minsk-born Berin’s journey began at the Hochschule für Musik in Detmold, Germany, where he studied classical music; he went on to perform as a saxophonist until he was 30. He then obtained a degree from the University of Cologne in cultural management which built upon his curiosity about what went on beyond the stage. “I was increasingly interested in how a complete cultural experience is created: what happens before an artist appears, how the audience enters a space and, most importantly, what feeling they carry with them when they leave,” he says.
Above Hélène Mercier-Arnault will perform at Big Art Festival on March 26 (Photo: Ryan Tandya/Tatler Hong Kong)
Hélène Mercier-Arnault will perform at Big Art Festival on March 26 (Photo: Ryan Tandya/Tatler Hong Kong)
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His conductor father, Arkady Beryn, was deeply influential. “He taught me to listen not only to the notes, but to the pauses between them—a sensibility that later became central to my work as a producer.” Each year, Big Art Festival expands to new destinations, selecting only the best locations to stage its shows—previous venues include Atlantis The Royale in the UAE; Grand Hotel des Bains Kempinski in Switzerland and Jumeirah Capri Palace in Italy. The event’s following is loyal too—with thousands of guests, including art collectors, entrepreneurs and industry leaders, travelling from all over the world to be part of the experience. Berin identifies three principles for its success: curatorial dramaturgy (“We never build a programme around big names alone. Every artist, every piece, every appearance is part of a cohesive narrative”); a highly curated audience (“There is a circle of guests who travel with the Big Art Festival from city to city—business leaders, collectors and intellectuals”); and authenticity of intention. “We do not seek to impress for the sake of effect. We create a space where artists can be genuine and guests can feel present, relaxed and engaged.”
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Over the years, he has brought the likes of Andrea Bocelli, Will Smith and Robbie Williams to Big Art Festival. Yet his shows are not starry for the sake of it. “Over time, it became evident that guests leave not with a list of artists or a programme, but with a feeling—an inner resonance that stays with them after the evening ends.” At the beginning of his career, Berin was actively involved in producing international tours. It was during this period that he met Jorge Iglesias. Beginning in 2018, this partnership with Iglesias—who managed his uncle, the singer-songwriter Julio Iglesias, for many years—represents an important synergy of like-minded entrepreneurs with a penchant for creating high impact events. “Jorge brings exceptional experience working with world-class artists and a deep understanding of how international cultural brands are built and sustained,” says Berin. “He thinks in terms of long horizons, sees the broader picture with clarity, and at the same time maintains a remarkable sensitivity to detail.”
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As for why the time was right to bring the Big Art Festival to Hong Kong, he explains: “Hong Kong becomes a gathering point for collectors, patrons and key figures of the international art world— individuals for whom art is not an occasion, but a way of life. Big Art Festival has already traced a path through Monaco, Dubai, Forte dei Marmi, New York, Portofino and Porto Cervo—destinations where audiences instinctively distinguish between ostentatious luxury and a truly refined cultural experience,” he says. “The partnership with Tatler Asia and the choice of Rosewood Hong Kong are a natural continuation of this philosophy: intellectual luxury, impeccable taste and deep respect for the audience.”
On March 26, guests will enjoy haute gastronomy and witness opera icon Plácido Domingo and violinist Julian Rachlin take the stage. Rachlin will perform on the 1704 ‘ex-Liebig’ Stradivarius —a masterpiece known for its unmatched sound quality and an instrument that is as much a piece of history as it is a tool of virtuosity. Later, musical poetry from pianist Hélène Mercier-Arnault, jazz singer and pianist Eylul Ergul and vocal ensemble The Timeless Tenors will dazzle the audience with opera, pop and pure emotion. “It will be a cultural movement, shaped around the ideas of depth, discernment and the true value of a meaningful experience,” he says. Watch this space.
As Content Director at Tatler Hong Kong, Tara shapes the brand's editorial vision across social, digital and print, and reports on Asia's most influential figures — from CEOs and leaders across business, style and the arts. In her dual role as Head of VIP, she also drives the planning and execution of Tatler's flagship IPs, curating star-studded events and building the relationships and communities that define the brand. Born and raised in the Middle East, she honed her craft in Dubai, crafting communication strategies for luxury brands across the Gulf. Follow her on Instagram @tarasobti.
