One focus of his speech was Mutter’s deep connection, built over decades, with Poland and its musical culture. “Anne-Sophie Mutter considers her talent a gift and an obligation at the same time. She is permanently striving for perfection; it is as if she is on a mission for all those to whom her art is important and decisive, for she expresses and reflects our passion, love and longing. With her violin, she transports the entire palette of sonic colours and emotions her instrument has to offer, conveying universal values to her audience,” thus Widlak.
In her acceptance speech, Mutter referred to Lutosławski and Penderecki – and spoke about Russia’s war against Ukraine. She pointed out that Penderecki took an unmistakable stand in his works, for instance his Polish Requiem, the Threnody to the Victims of Hiroshima and the Seven Gates of Jerusalem. “I am very proud of all my fellow musicians who are not afraid to call Vladimir Putin and his henchmen what they are: war criminals. And I am grateful to all fellow musicians who feel helpless, yet try to help. For example through innumerable benefit concerts, some of them given by Russian and Ukrainian musicians together.”
“When Paul Sacher introduced me to Witold Lutosławski almost four decades ago, I would never have dared to dream that I would enjoy such a profound relationship with Poland and its creative artists.” – Anne-Sophie Mutter
