Bermuda Court Orders Trust to Back $130-Million Opera Pledge

A court in Bermuda has ruled that a trust based on the island nation must honor the pledge of a philanthropist who committed more than $130-million to build an opera house in Lucerne, Switzerland, but died before the money was paid out, reports The New York Times.

The Butterfield Trust had sought to revoke the pledge in 2010 following the death of the donor, Christof Engelhorn, prompting a court challenge by officials with the Lucerne Festival that has been closely watched in the classical-music world.

The court said Friday that Mr. Engelhorn’s pledge had been made “in highly informal terms” but was still binding under Swiss law. But the court did not order immediate payment, ruling that the group behind the planned opera house, the Salle Modulable Foundation, must demonstrate that the project is financially feasible.