Pianist Menahem Pressler will be honored this year with an ECHO Klassik for his lifetime achievement. This was announced today by the German Phono Academy, the institute of culture of the Federal Music Industry Association (BVMI). As the official jury statement explains: "We are celebrating a lifetime achievement in the very best sense. In Menahem Pressler, an outstanding artist of worldwide renown, but also an extraordinary individual is honored." Menahem Pressler will be on hand in person to receive the ECHO Klassik at the gala ceremony on October 18, 2025 at the Konzerthaus in Berlin.

Menahem Pressler will also be performing that evening together with Elīna Garanča, David Garrett, Jonas Kaufmann, Lang Lang, Andreas Ottensamer, Nemanja Radulović and Maurice Steger as well as with the two recipients of the 2015 ECHO Klassik Newcomers of the Year award, Bryan Hymel and Sonya Yoncheva, and the Konzerthausorchester Berlin conducted by Pablo Heras-Casado. The event will be broadcast on Germany's public TV channel ZDF at 10 pm that same evening. Tickets for the event can be purchased starting on September 30, 2015 at 12.00 pm at the Konzerthaus Berlin Ticket Hotline, which can be reached at 030 20309-2101.

Professor Dieter Gorny, Board Chairman of the Federal Music Industry Association (BVMI): "Menahem Pressler is not only an outstanding pianist; he is also an extraordinary figure in the world of music. His energy and passion have enabled him to achieve great musical heights and he continues to reach his audience today in a very special way, as evidenced by his ongoing solo career. I am personally delighted that he will be receiving an ECHO for his lifetime achievement. The fact that he will also play for us that evening is yet another very special honor!"

Menahem Pressler was born in 1923 and founded the legendary Beaux Arts Trio in 1955. His work with the ensemble brought the genre of chamber music to a new level of global prominence. This 91 year-old solo pianist and chamber musician has received numerous international awards, not only for his work in the realm of music, including the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany and an Honorary Citizenship in his home town of Magdeburg. He made over 50 recordings with the Beaux Arts Trio and over 30 recordings as a solo artist. He is also a piano professor at the Indiana University Music School and holds master classes all over the world.

Overview of ECHO Klassik 2015 Prize Winners (in alphabetical order):

Visit our website<link http: www.echoklassik.de en klassik-startseite external-link-new-window external link in new> www.echoklassik.de for more information on the awards ceremony, including our 58 prize winners in 22 categories as well as many photos and statements.

ECHO Klassik – A Gathering of National and International Classical Music Stars

The ECHO Klassik is one of the most prestigious and well-known music awards in the world. In 2015, it will be handed out for the 22nd time. Each year a virtual who's-who of the classical music scene attends the glamorous gala. This year, the ECHO Klassik will be held on October 18, 2015 at the Konzerthaus in Berlin.

The German music-industry body known as the Deutsche Phono Academy, the cultural institute of the Federal Music Industry Association (BVMI), has honored outstanding performances by national and international artists as part of its ECHO Klassik awards annually since 1994. The prize winners are chosen by a jury consisting of prominent industry experts. In addition to recognizing extraordinary recordings, one of the other key goals of the ECHO Klassik is to use the prestigious award to foster young talent and bring the appeal and diversity of classical music to a broader audience.