18th »Glashütte Original MusicFestivalAward« awarded to John Adams

The American composer and conductor John Adams received the 18^th »Glashütte Original MusicFestivalAward« on May 30, 2021 during a concert streamed by the Dresden Music Festival. It was presented to him by the Artistic Director of the Dresden Music Festival, Jan Vogler, in New York. On the occasion of this ceremony, the New York-based orchestra The Knights led by Eric Jacobsen played selected pieces by John Adams, joined by Gil Shaham (violin) and Timo Andres (piano) as soloists.

 

»Dresden has a great history in the arts and crafts and particularly in music. The names of von Weber, Wagner and Richard Strauss are inextricably tied to the city’s legendary past, a fact that I’ve been aware of for as long as I can remember. To be the recipient of this year’s Glashütte Original MusicFestivalAward is therefore a very special honour for me. Because of the current pandemic the pleasure of my first visit to Dresden and to accept the award in person will regretfully not happen, but I am determined to make that trip as soon as possible in the near future, perhaps even to perform and hear my music there.          

This generous award will help to continue the work to which my wife and I have dedicated ourselves over recent years, including funding music lessons in American prisons, awarding grants for classical music education in economically and racially stressed communities, and commissioning and performing of new works by young composers,« said John Adams.

 

The »Glashütte Original MusicFestivalAward« honours achievements in music education and support for young artists. It is donated by the watch-making company Glashütte Original for the 18^th time in 2021 and presented in conjunction with the Dresden Music Festival. The »Glashütte Original MusicFestivalAward« carries a cash value of 25,000 Euros, which are tied to specific aims.

As in past years, the trophy of the »Glashütte Original MusicFestivalAward« will be designed and made by two students of the factory’s own Watch-Making School »Alfred Helwig«. The prize sculpture combines traditional watch-making craft with modern materials. The overhung tourbillion with its filigree screw balance symbolizes the watch-makers’ virtuosity. It is considered a sign of the highest art of watch-making and was developed by the master watch-maker Alfred Helwig in Glashütte around 1920.

You can rewatch the concert here: Dresden Music Festival Award - John Adams 

 

 

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Martin Künanz

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