Anne-Sophie Mutter Awarded $138,000 Japanese 'Praemium Imperiale' Award

The Japan Art Association has announced the recipients of the annual 'Praemium Imperiale' Awards – including violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter

The Japan Art Association has today announced the recipients of the annual Praemium Imperiale Awards – including German violin virtuoso Anne-Sophie Mutter.

Awarded in fields of achievement not represented by the Noble Prizes, including painting, sculpture, architecture, music, theatre and film, Ms Mutter will receive 15 Million JPY (US $138,000).

Given annually since 1989, the award recognizes those who have made “major international impact in their particular field” including: Painting, Sculpture, Architecture, Theatre and Film and Music.

This year’s other category winners include painter William Kentridge, sculptor Mona Hatoum, duo architects Tod Williams and Billie Tsien and kabuki actor Tamasaburo Bando.

The awards will be presented by Prince Hitachi, honorary patron of the Japan Arts Association at an official ceremony in Japan, in October.

Launched in 1988, prior Praemium Imperiale award recipients include Riccardo Muti, Leonard Bernstein, Mstislav Rostropovich, Martha Argerich, Daniel Barenboim and Gidon Kremer.