Krystian Zimerman wins Praemium Imperiale prize

The Japan Art Association has today announced that the 2022 Praemium Imperiale prize for music has been given to Polish pianist Krystian Zimerman.

As part of his award, Zimerman will receive 15 million Yen (c. £100,000). Awards in all categories will be officially bestowed in October to winners in each of the five categories: music; architecture, won by Japanese Architecture firm, Sanaa; painting, won by Italian artist Giulio Paolini; film and theatre, won by German filmmaker Wim Wenders and sculpture, won by artist and activist, Ai Weiwei.

International advisor in the UK, Lord Patten of Barnes, who hosted the awards announcement alongside the Japanese Ambassador, Hajime Hayashi, said: ‘In these deeply polarising times, artists’ ability to command attention, inspire reflection and bring solace is more crucial than ever. Praemium Imperiale testifies to the important contribution that Japan has made in honouring achievement in the arts.’

Born in Poland in 1956, Zimerman studied piano from the age of seven, winning the Chopin International Piano Competition at 18. He established the Polish Festival Orchestra in 1999 to mark the 150^th anniversary of Chopin’s death. Zimerman tunes and assembles his own pianos, having developed a deep understanding of their mechanisms throughout his youth.

In an interview for his profile film as an award-winner, Zimerman said: ‘It was always a lot of fun to work with the piano as an instrument because it’s incredibly complex… Poland in the 50s, in the 60s was a very poor country. You had no access to spare parts, one had to do it oneself.’

Since 1989, the annual Praemium Imperiale Awards cover fields not represented by the Nobel Prizes. The Laureates are selected from a list submitted by six international advisors including former prime ministers and leaders of cultural and educational institutions. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton has also recently been announced as an advisor.

In addition to the five category awards, a 5 million Yen (c. £33,000) grant for young artists has been awarded to Germany’s Kronberg Academy which offers advanced training for young violinists, violists, cellists and pianists.

You can find out more about the Praemium Imperiale prize here.