Shortly before his 85th birthday, Prof. Dr. hc. Heinz Holliger was awarded the Alban Berg Ring by the President of the Alban Berg Foundation, Dr. Maximilian Eiselsberg.
The Ring was initiated in 2021 and first presented to Prof. Dr. Friedrich Cerha following a decision by the Board of Trustees at the Alban Berg Foundation. Choosing Holliger as his successor, Cerha wrote: “Nobody alive can bear comparison to the Ring’s name giver, but the person I have nominated – who is a serious composer and highly dedicated professional musician – combines qualities that show he is worthy of the honour.”
In his laudation during the presentation ceremony at a Basel Chamber Orchestra concert conducted by Prof. Holliger, Dr. Eiselsberg paid tribute to the Ring’s recipient: “With modesty and humility, he devotes himself wholeheartedly to music and passionately pursues his musical goals. Heinz Holliger is known to be uncompromising, in the sense that he knows what he wants and how he wants it, and he is also able to achieve this. Friedrich Cerha, who put Heinz Holliger’s name forward for this Ring, was another uncompromising musician. It is a quality this unites the two musicians and also creates a connection with Alban Berg.”
Holliger thanked him, saying: “I was surprised and pleased, and also deeply touched, when I was told that Friedrich Cerha – whom I held in high esteem – had put my name forward as his successor for the Alban Berg Ring. Although my accomplishments are rather humble compared to those of Friedrich Cerha with respect to Alban Berg’s wonderful music, I can assure you that it remains my lifelong ambition to put all my effort into drawing attention to Alban Berg, who – together with Schumann, Schubert and Debussy – has been one of my four favourite composers since I was quite young.”
Photo of presentation: Benno Hunziker, from left to right: Dr. Maximilian Eiselsberg and Prof. Dr. Heinz Holliger. Photos of ring: Stephan Trierenberg. Photomontage: Iby-Jolande Varga
published: 21. May 2024