Anne-Sophie Mutter
Photo: Deutsche Grammophon
The Polar Music Prize 2019 is awarded to the German violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter, the organizer said today. The press release says: « She grew up in a small village in the Black Forest. By the age of five, it was obvious that the football-playing girl had an exceptional musical talent. At the age of 13, she auditioned for Herbert von Karajan. The following year, she started playing with Karajan and the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra. Over the years, several of the world’s foremost modern composers have written music specially for her. With her Stradivarius under her chin, Anne-Sophie Mutter is not just one passionate and risk-taking musician – she is also a storyteller. As she herself said, ‘Music is only touching when it tells a story.’ With her passionate commitment to justice, Mutter demonstrates the power and key role of music in the world. »
