Congratulation to this year’s prize winner!
23.5.2026
The annual prize ceremony of the Ernst von Siemens Music Foundation took place yesterday evening in Munich, where the Foundation’s Curatorium honored Jordi Savall for his life’s work. In its citation, the Foundation described Savall as an artist whose work has made early music a living and expressive presence, showing that historical sounds are not relics of the past, but bridges between people and eras. The laudatory speech for the music prize recipient was delivered by the Swiss violinist Edouard Mätzener. The composers Bethan Morgan-Williams, Hovik Sardaryan, and Kitty Xiao, together with the ensembles NO HAY BANDA from Canada and Ensemble for New Music Tallinn, also received prizes
During the ceremony, Tabea Zimmermann, Foundation Board Chair of the Ernst von Siemens Music Foundation, presented the Ernst von Siemens Music Prize to Jordi Savall. The certificate states: “With inexhaustible curiosity, artistic depth, and historical precision, Jordi Savall has set standards in the approach to early music sources and inspired generations of musicians.” In his laudatory speech, Edouard Mätzener honored the recipient of the Ernst von Siemens Music Prize with the following words: “He is someone who deeply understands and lives music, and who, with passion, discipline, and perseverance, has created a universe of beauty and solidarity-based dialogue. He knows what it means to love, he knows what it means to trust, and he knows what it means to be European. Trust, intelligent transmission, a return to shared values: these are the principles that Jordi embodies.” Jordi Savall expressed his gratitude with the following words: QUOTE JORDI
At the evening’s close, the prize recipient performed together with his ensembles Hespèrion XXI and La Capella Reial de Catalunya. The program, titled Pro Pacem, featured works spanning several centuries.
Earlier in the evening, Ilona Schmiel, Chair of the Curatorium of the Ernst von Siemens Music Foundation, presented the Composer Prizes to the Welsh composer Bethan Morgan-Williams, the Armenian composer Hovik Sardaryan, and the Australian composer Kitty Xiao, as well as the Ensemble Prizes to the Canadian ensemble NO HAY BANDA and Ensemble for New Music Tallinn. Schmiel also spoke about the Foundation’s broad international project work, which will receive support totaling 4.6 million euros in 2026. She placed particular emphasis on the Foundation’s Funding for Youth Projects, for which 500,000 euros has been allocated. In conversation with Annekatrin Hentschel at the opening of the ceremony, Tabea Zimmermann highlighted the Foundation’s positive development. In 2026, projects in 36 countries will receive funding. She described this as an important contribution to contemporary music, especially in turbulent times. With nearly 1,000 guests in attendance, the concert hall of the Prinzregententheater was filled to capacity.
The prize ceremony was recorded by Bayerischer Rundfunk and will be broadcast on June 2, 2026, at 8:03 p.m. as part of the “Horizonte” series on BR Klassik. The event will also be available shortly as an audio stream at www.br-klassik.de and www.evs-musikstiftung.ch www.evs-musikstiftung.ch