The legendary Argentine pianist received the Festival Pin with Rubies following her recital with violinist Renaud Capuçon on 21 August.
The Salzburg Festival has honoured Martha Argerich with its Festival Pin with Rubies, marking the pianist’s 55-year association with the event.
The distinction was presented following Argerich’s recital with French violinist Renaud Capuçon at the Haus für Mozart on 21 August. Members of the Festival’s Executive Board and Concert Director Axel Hiller presented the award to the 85-year-old pianist.
“It is a great honour for the Salzburg Festival to present Martha Argerich with the Festival Pin with Rubies,” the Festival said. “We are grateful that Martha Argerich has been associated with us as a Festival artist for 55 years.”
A relationship dating back to 1971
Argerich made her Salzburg Festival debut in 1971, appearing with the Czech Philharmonic under Claudio Abbado. Over the following five and a half decades, she has returned regularly to Salzburg, establishing a long association with the Festival.
“Every one of her concerts becomes a singular moment of musical brilliance,” the Festival said in announcing the distinction, adding: “Ad multos annos.”
The Buenos Aires-born pianist turned 85 on 5 June. One of the most celebrated pianists of her generation, she won the Geneva and Busoni competitions in 1957 before achieving her international breakthrough with victory at the International Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw in 1965.
Argerich and Capuçon at the Haus für Mozart
The 21 August recital featured Schumann’s Violin Sonata No. 1 in A minor, Op. 105, Debussy’s Violin Sonata in G minor and Beethoven’s Violin Sonata No. 9 in A major, Op. 47, the Kreutzer.
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