The international jury has decided to grant the Franz Schubert Award to Brigitte Fassbaender and Fleur Barron

Brigitte Fassbaender (Berlin, 1939), mezzo-soprano and stage director, was the first woman to perform and record Schubert’s three major song cycles: Die schöne Müllerin, Winterreise, and Schwanengesang. She has been awarded the prize as, in the words of the jury, “a musical personality who, throughout her long career, has had a decisive influence on the reception of Franz Schubert’s repertoire.”

Fleur Barron (Newtownards, Ireland, 1988) is a young mezzo-soprano who has been praised by the jury for her “passionate commitment to poetic song and her interest in the work of Franz Schubert”. In addition, her eagerness to explore new artistic challenges by placing Schubert’s lieder in dialogue with contemporary composers from other musical cultures also demonstrates her dedication to intercultural exchange.

The members of the jury were Marc Busquets (artistic director of the Victoria de los Ángeles Foundation since 2017); Julius Drake (pianist and professor at the University of Graz, Austria); Mónica Lorenzo (artistic coordinator of the Spanish National Orchestra and Choir); Leticia Martín (head of production and assistant to the artistic production department at the Gran Teatre del Liceu); and Victor Medem (director of the Franz Schubert Association).

Press release

The international jury decided on May 22, 2021, to grant the Franz Schubert Award to Alfred Brendel and Samuel Hasselhorn.

Alfred Brendel (Wiesenberg, Moravia, 1931) is a distinguished pianist and writer who retired from the stage at the end of 2008 after receiving numerous awards throughout his career. He is an absolute authority on the work of Franz Schubert, and his influence on performers, programmers, and the specialized press has been crucial in ensuring the proper recognition of the value of the Austrian composer’s piano music.

Samuel Hasselhorn (Göttingen, Germany, 1990) is a young baritone with great potential in the poetic song repertoire and a special affinity for Schubert’s works. His commitment to the genre of the art song has marked his career from the very beginning, when he received awards from prestigious international competitions. He has been a member of the Vienna State Opera and has performed on prominent international stages, collaborating with renowned pianists.

The members of the jury were Jonathan Brown (violist, member of the Casals Quartet), Johannes Bultmann (General Director of SWR Classic), Antoni Colomer (journalist, lecturer, and author), Victor Medem (director of the Franz Schubert Association), and Elisabeth Reischl (artistic programmer at the Konzerthaus Wien).