Gidon Kremer became the winner of the musical "Nobel"

TOKYO. The Japan Art Association awarded the Praemium Imperiale Award to Kremerata Baltica Team Leader Gidon Kremer.

The winners in five categories are determined by the Japan Art Association. Gidon Kremer became the 28th prize winner established by the Imperial House of Japan. His predecessors in the list of outstanding musicians were Penderetsky, Pyart, Rostropovich, Boulez, Schnittke, Ozawa. Ironically referring to any regalia, Kremer and in his gratitude speech at the ceremony in Tokyo noted that the true value of Praemium Imperiale in the opportunity to become part of the creative "family". Its members are outstanding professionals with an impeccable reputation who serve art, and do not squander themselves for the needs of entertainment lovers for the sake of high fees, are not afraid to take risks and defend their ideals. Kremer fits perfectly into this worthy company. He was always distinguished by fearlessness in upholding his principles, uncompromising civic position.

Despite the successful completion of the Moscow Conservatory, victories at the Tchaikovsky competitions in Moscow and Paganini in Genoa and other achievements, he did not fit into Soviet reality, which quickly made him travel abroad. He did not want to choose the right friends for the sake of a career, did not betray those who, like him, sought to go their own way - to Gubaidullin and Schnittke. He did not beg for a title, did not commit acts that would have to be ashamed later. Emigration in 1980 was the only way out, the ability to play music to which the heart lies. In 1997, Kremer founded the Kremerata Baltic orchestra, which is played by musicians from Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia. One of Kremerata Baltica’s discs - After Mozart - was awarded the Grammy Award in 2002.

For 30 years, Kremer was the unchallenged leader of the Lockenhaus chamber music festival. He was the first violinist to be awarded the musical “Nobel Prize” since its inception for achievements and spiritual enrichment of the world community. Laureates in other categories were: Brazilian architect Paulo Mendes da Rocha, film director Martin Scorsese, American photographer Cindy Sherman, French artist Annette Messager.

Elena Tanakova © Gallerix.ru