Conductor Iván Fischer to Receive Concertgebouw Prize
‘A born artist. Everything he touches transforms into something new.’
The prestigious Concertgebouw Prize will be presented on 16 March 2026 to the Hungarian conductor Iván Fischer. He is being recognised for his outstanding contribution to shaping the artistic identity of the Concertgebouw, having conducted more than 150 concerts here. This season, he will return to the podium for an additional eight performances. With this award, Iván Fischer joins a distinguished list of past recipients, including conductor Bernard Haitink, violinist Janine Jansen, cellist Yo-Yo Ma, and trumpeter Wynton Marsalis. This is the fifteenth time the Concertgebouw Prize has been awarded.
Iván Fischer: ‘If I had the task, like Paris, the Trojan Prince, to choose among the world’s concert halls, which one is the most beautiful, the most festive, the most attractive, I would give the golden apple to the Amsterdam Concertgebouw.’
Iván Fischer and The Concertgebouw
Iván Fischer’s special connection with The Concertgebouw and the city of Amsterdam began in 1987, when he made his debut conducting the Concertgebouw Orchestra in a performance of Bartók’s Concerto for Orchestra. Since then, he has taken the podium more than 150 times, collaborating not only with the Concertgebouw Orchestra and his own Budapest Festival Orchestra but also with the European Union Youth Orchestra and the Gustav Mahler Youth Orchestra.
Fischer has lived in Amsterdam for many years and has mastered the Dutch language. Renowned for his unconventional approach, he often invites the audience to sit among the musicians and regularly presents concerts infused with theatrical flair. Beyond conducting, Fischer is also an accomplished composer of choral and orchestral works. One of his moving pieces 'Sait gesunt' was recently performed at The Concertgebouw by the National Women’s Youth Choir. His appearances with the Budapest Festival Orchestra during the 2025 Mahler Festival were widely praised by critics as a festival highlight.
Simon Reinink, executive director of The Concertgebouw, commented on the awarding of the Concertgebouw Prize: ‘Iván Fischer is a born artist, never one to settle for routine. Everything he touches transforms into something new, as if being heard for the very first time. He always brings a wonderful sense of humour to every performance. A concert with Iván is more than just music ‒ it’s a complete experience.’
Iván Fischer is known for presenting unique concepts, like 'Inside Out' where the audience could sit inbetween the musicians of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra.
Concertgebouw Prize
Now in its fifteenth edition, the Concertgebouw Prize will be presented during a festive gala dinner in the Main Hall. This prestigious award is an initiative of the management and boards of The Concertgebouw and Concertgebouw Fund. It honours musicians who have made significant, long-term contributions to the artistic identity of the venue. Previous laureates include Cecilia Bartoli (2004), the Beaux Arts Trio (2006), Bernard Haitink (2007), the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra (2009), Maurizio Pollini (2010), Thomas Hampson (2011), Janine Jansen (2013), Yo-Yo Ma (2014), John Eliot Gardiner (2016), the Radio Philharmonic Orchestra (2017), the Hagen Quartett (2019), Wynton Marsalis (2021), Jaap van Zweden (2023) and Joyce DiDonato (2024). The Concertgebouw Prize consists of a work of art and a permanent inscription on the Roll of Honour opposite the soloists’ staircase of the Main Hall.
Biography Iván Fischer
Iván Fischer studied piano, violin, cello, and composition in Budapest before continuing his training in Vienna, where he took orchestral conducting lessons with Hans Swarowsky. He then spent two seasons as assistant to Nikolaus Harnoncourt. In 1983, Fischer founded the Budapest Festival Orchestra, where he remains chief conductor. He pioneered innovative initiatives such as ‘Cocoa Concerts’ for young children, ‘Midnight Music’ for younger audiences, surprise performances and various outreach projects ‒ including a musical tour in former synagogues.
Alongside his work as a composer and opera director with the Iván Fischer Opera Company, he has established several festivals, including the Vicenza Opera Festival. Fischer’s distinguished career has also included leading Kent Opera, Opéra National de Lyon, the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington, D.C. and the Konzerthausorchester Berlin, where he is still honorary conductor.
Since 1987, Fischer has been a frequent guest conductor with the Concertgebouw Orchestra, which honoured his outstanding artistic contributions by naming him honorary guest conductor for the 2021/2022 season. He has received numerous prestigious awards, including the Kossuth Prize, the Ovation Prize, and the World Economic Forum’s Crystal Award for promoting international cultural exchange. Fischer is a Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres and an honorary member of the Royal Academy of Music in London. While maintaining select guest conducting engagements, he dedicates much of his time to composing, the Budapest Festival Orchestra, his opera company and the development of creative projects. He is also recognised for his commitment to human rights, democracy, and tolerance.
Requests to photograph the Concertgebouw Prize ceremony on 16 March 2026 can be sent to pers@concertgebouw.nl
