Violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter to Receive German Piano Festival Prize

The celebrated violinist has been honored for her commitment to the Ruhr Piano Festival as well as her support for Ukraine

In June 2023, German violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter will be honored with the prize of the Ruhr Piano Festival. Usually given to a pianist, the prize has been given for Mutter's "faithful friendship and support" of the Festival, at which she has made fifteen appearances.

Alongside receiving the Prize, Mutter will perform a program of works with pianist Lambert Orkis and cellist Maximilian Hornung. On the program is Beethoven's "Ghost" Trio and Brahms' Violin Sonata No. 3, as well as Clara Schumann's Three Romances for violin and piano, and Sebastian Currier's Ghost Trio — a companion piece for the Beethoven.

"When we award Anne-Sophie Mutter with the prize of the Ruhr Piano Festival this year, we honor an exceptional artist who has been a loyal friend of the festival since 1995," wrote Franz Xaver Ohnesorg, the festival's outgoing Director. "This year marks her fifteenth appearance at the festival, and each of her performances is a unique experience."

"We are especially grateful to her that she initiated the benefit concert for Ukrainian children together with us in March 2022, which we were able to realize together with the Konzerthaus Dortmund, where she joined Lauma Skride, Pablo Ferrández (cello) and the Cologne Chamber Orchestra conducted by Christoph Poppen for Beethoven's great triple concerto."

Held in Ruhr, Germany, the Ruhr Piano Festival, celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2018. Every year, the festival puts on around 70 concerts and public events, often featuring pianists like Daniel Barenboim, Alfred Brendel, Chick Corea, Hélène Grimaud, Evgeny Kissin, Igor Levit, Sir András Schiff, Daniil Trifonov and Mitsuko Uchida.

Every year, the Festival honors artists whose life’s work is closely connected with the Ruhr Piano Festival. The prizewinner can then choose a young pianist to receive a scholarship. The scholarship holder is then invited to give his or her debut recital the following year.