FRANZ SCHUBERT AWARD 2021
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 JURY
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).