What a night! The Champagne Award for Joie de Vivre has been around for 21 years and since 2009 Panama PR, as Bureau du Champagne for Germany and Austria, has had the privilege of organising this prestigious award.

This year, the 2019 Champagne Prize was awarded to Max Mutzke on 11 February in Hamburg. The musician and singer has been one of the most successful artists on the German music scene since his launch in 2004.

“With Max Mutzke, the Champagne Prize 2019 will be awarded to a person who inspires many people with passion and personality,” says Hubertus Meyer-Burckhardt, chairman of the jury of the Champagne Prize for Joie de Vivre. “His passion is expressed through his vocal power and vocal diversity and is also reflected in his personal dedication and love for music. His passion and joie de vivre is transmitted to every listener. Hardly any musician reaches such a wide range of fans and few singers play with musical genres with such virtuosity. The Growers and Houses of Champagne see many parallels in the enjoyment of Max Mutzke’s music and Champagne. We are all the more delighted that he is accepting the award in person today.”

Other recipients of the award include Cardinal Lehmann, Michelle Hunziker, Hape Kerkeling, Verena Bentele and Thomas Gottschalk. And because the gala night is so lovely, some award winners have returned: this year Barbara Schöneberger, the 2009 award winner, sang the laudatory speech for her friend Max Mutzke. The fitting title for the occasion was „Männer muss man loben“ (Men must be praised).

And since joie de vivre and Champagne harmonise perfectly, this evening became a celebration of friendship and genuine artistic affection, with the music of Max Mutzke and Barbara Schöneberger sweeping the 80 guests off their feet and making them sing along.

Despite all the tradition, the format of the evening has changed completely. A culinary and musical tour of the wonderful Hotel Louis C. Jacob gave the guests and the award winner plenty of opportunity for conversation and gourmet enjoyment. Michelin-starred chef Thomas Martin even opened his kitchen for the casual finale of the evening.

The approximately 45 media representatives were also enthusiastic about the openness of the award winner and the laudator. The profile of the invited guests has also changed somewhat to personalities from media, arts and society.