Mendelssohn Award 2009
Winners of the Leipzig Mendelssohn Award 2009
Helmut Schmidt
Helmut Schmidt is known for his commitment to Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy: In 1997 already, on the occasion of a gala evening organised by the Mendelssohn House and the Deutsche Nationalstiftung at the Leipzig Gewandhaus, he stressed Mendelssohn's merits and how much his work is still relevant to our society today. With the much-appreciated composer, Helmut Schmidt shares, among other things, the knowledge and understanding that music is a universal language that has the power to unify people and peoples.Helmut Schmidt has recorded several record on which he, together with pianists Christoph Eschenbach, Justus Frantz and Gerhard Oppitz, interprets the works of classical composers. The 
prize (PDF, 1,0 MB) was presented by Justus Frantz.
Armin Mueller-Stahl
Armin Mueller-Stahl is famous for his acting, and is particularly known as a character actor. He is also a multi-facetted artist with a deep love of music and painting, the foundations of which were laid by his parents in his childhood. This artistic versatility links him to Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy: Mueller-Stahl likes to paint and draw as well as play the violin. He also studied musicology. However, these are not his only links to Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy, whom he also painted. His understanding of Mendelssohn and of his work results from his love of nature, which the two artists share and which serves them both as a source of strength, creativity and ideas.
Actor and artist Armin Mueller-Stahl is awarded the Mendelssohn Award 2009 (PDF, 1,0 MB) in the category Fine Arts. The prize was presented by Geraldine Chaplin.
Riccardo Chailly
Riccardo Chailly has repeatedly proved his passion for and his scientific interest in the music of Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy in a huge number of concerts, whether it was in front of a local audience at the Gewandhaus in Leipzig or on his tours with the Gewandhaus Orchestra. Even during his first concert as the orchestra's conductor in the season of 2005/6 his predecessor's music played an important part. With his recordings on CD together with his orchestra he has managed to bring Mendelssohn's music even more to the attention of the public. On the occasion of the Mendelssohn Festival Maestro Chailly regularly initiates and strongly supports congresses on all aspects of the life and work of Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy. Riccardo Chailly, conductor of the Gewandhaus Orchestra, is awarded the Leipzig
Mendelssohn Award 2009 (PDF, 1,0 MB) in the category Music. The prize was presented by Ornella Muti.
