The Icelandic pianist Víkingur Ólafsson has been awarded the Royal Philharmonic Society Gold Medal, one of the most prestigious international distinctions in classical music. The medal was presented on 25 September at London’s Royal Festival Hall, during the opening concert of the Philharmonia Orchestra’s 2025–26 season, following Ólafsson’s performance of Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 3 with the orchestra and its principal conductor Santtu-Matias Rouvali.
Founded in 1871, the RPS Gold Medal recognises “the most outstanding musicianship” and bears the image of Beethoven, in honour of the Society’s commission of his Ninth Symphony. Past recipients include Johannes Brahms, Richard Strauss, Benjamin Britten, Dmitri Shostakovich, Leonard Bernstein, Martha Argerich, Jessye Norman, John Williams, Mitsuko Uchida, Arvo Pärt, and Thomas Adès.
In remarks at the presentation, RPS Board Chair Angela Dixon praised Ólafsson’s interpretations and highlighted his reach through both recordings and live performance. Accepting the award, the pianist said he felt “deeply honoured – and a little overwhelmed – to be included in the company of the recipients of the RPS Gold Medal.”
Ólafsson, who won the 2025 Grammy Award for Best Classical Instrumental Solo for his recording of Bach’s Goldberg Variations, is currently preparing the release of his new album Opus 109 in November, centred on Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No. 30. His upcoming season includes appearances with the Berlin Philharmonic under Semyon Bychkov, the Czech Philharmonic with Antonio Pappano, and performances of John Adams’s concerto After the Fall with the Los Angeles Philharmonic.
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