Daniel Barenboim
Daniel Barenboim has been awarded the Royal Philharmonic Society Gold Medal, one of the most prestigious honours in classical music.
He was presented with the medal by Graham Sheffield Chairman of the Royal Philharmonic Society at London’s Royal Festival Hall on Monday 28 January 2008 following the opening concert of his Beethoven Sonata Cycle.
The RPS Gold Medal was initiated in 1870 to commemorate the Centenary of Beethoven's birth and bears the effigy of Beethoven. It is awarded for the most outstanding musicianship. Fewer than 100 medals have been presented in the intervening years. Current Gold Medal recipients include: Claudio Abbado, Janet Baker, Pierre Boulez, Alfred Brendel, Elliott Carter, Colin Davis, Placido Domingo, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Bernard Haitink, Charles Mackerras, Simon Rattle and Joan Sutherland.
Commenting on the award, Graham Sheffield, RPS Chairman said:
“Daniel Barenboim is not only one of the world's great pianists and conductors, but he has proved to be a passionate ambassador for the message that music plays a vital role in a healthy society. He is also a great advocate for contemporary music, and has performed and commissioned many new works. His activities and influence are truly international. He has shown great courage in demonstrating music's power to transcend political boundaries and racial enmities, and made a major contribution to intellectual debate”.
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