Renowned Catalan musician Jordi Savall has been honored with the prestigious 2026 Ernst von Siemens Music Prize, recognizing his remarkable contributions to the world of music. The award, which includes an endowment of €250,000, will be presented at a ceremony on May 23, 2026, at the Prinzregententheater in Munich, Germany. During the ceremony, Savall will conduct performances by the ensembles Hespèrion XXI and La Capella Reial de Catalunya, both of which he founded with his late wife, soprano Montserrat Figueras.
Savall’s journey in music began as a cellist in Barcelona, but he eventually shifted his focus to the viola da gamba, an instrument that would become his signature sound. He completed his studies at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis in Basel, where he would later teach. Since the late 1960s, Savall has dedicated himself to promoting early music, exploring medieval and Renaissance manuscripts as a performer and researcher.
In addition to his work with Hespèrion XXI and La Capella Reial de Catalunya, Savall founded Le Concert des Nations in 1989, an orchestra that performs Baroque, Classical, and early Romantic repertoire on period instruments. He also established the record label Alia Vox in 1998, which has released over 230 recordings and sold more than two million CDs worldwide.
Savall’s contributions extend beyond his musical career, as he has also been involved in social activism. In 2018, he founded the ensemble Orpheus XXI, which brings together refugee musicians from North Africa and the Arab world. His research has highlighted the interconnected roots of African and European musical traditions, and he continues to advocate for peace through music.
The Ernst von Siemens Music Prize also recognized three composers, each receiving a €35,000 Composers Prize: British composer Bethan Morgan-Williams, Armenian composer Hovik Sardaryan, and Australian composer Kitty Xiao. Additionally, two ensembles, NO HAY BANDA from Canada and the Ensemble for New Music Tallinn from Estonia, will receive the 2026 Ensemble Prizes.
The Ernst von Siemens Music Prize has been awarded annually since 1973 by the private Ernst von Siemens Music Foundation, based in Switzerland. Previous recipients of the award include Simon Rattle and Tabea Zimmermann. Savall’s recognition is a testament to his enduring impact on the world of music, and his commitment to promoting peace and understanding through his art. As he so eloquently puts it, “Music cannot end war, but it can bring peace to our hearts. Music is the only language that speaks directly to the heart. Without it, life would be impossible.”