Georgian violinist Lisa Batiashvili and German pianist Igor Levit have been honored as recipients of the 2025 Kaiser Otto Prize in Magdeburg, Germany.
The 2025 prize, granted to winners who support European ideas and democratic values every two years, will celebrate its 20th anniversary.
The musicians have been recognized for their long-standing dedication to fighting a war and promoting peace.
In the first year of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Batiashvili performed on Munich's Odeonsplatz. Meanwhile, Levit openly denounced growing anti-semitism and called for the release of the Israeli hostages.
Honored for their long-standing commitment to speaking out against conflict and anti-Semitism, Batiashvili and Levit have "repeatedly spoken out in very decisive ways," BR Klassik wrote.
Simone Borris, the mayor of Magdeburg, will award Batiashvili and Levit at a ceremony in Magdeburg Cathedral on Tuesday, July 2, 2025. The award will be presented with the appointed public leaders from politics, science and education, art and culture, and society.
"They give a voice to people who cannot speak for themselves or who are not heard sufficiently," Borris said.
The City of Magdeburg's website said the two artists were selected from a group of 12 candidates that were considered for the nomination. There was wider potential for nominations even though the Kaiser Otto Prize was only given to people deeply involved in politics.
The Kaiser Otto Prize is regarded as Magdeburg's highest and most important award. The honorary award is presented as a medal designed by Bernd Göbel.
Furthermore, previous recipients of the award include the president of Romania, Klaus Iohanni, the former chancellor Angela Merkel, and the former Federal President Richard von Weizsäcker.
