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Press Release

4 May 2007

Berlin Philharmonic receives this year’s
European Media Prize “Médaille Charlemagne pour les Médias Européens” (Charlemagne Medal)

The Berlin Philharmonic Foundation, under the direction of Sir Simon Rattle, was today (4 May) awarded the European Media Prize “Médaille Charlemagne pour les Médias Européens” (Charlemagne Medal). This special prize is awarded to a prominent European media personality or institution as part of the Charlemagne award.

Frauke Gerlach, chairperson of the association "Médaille Charlemagne pour les Médias Européens", said at the awarding ceremony in the Coronation Hall of the historic Town Hall in Aachen: “Members of the Berlin Philharmonic show us that different European cultures can be combined when the creative potential of each individual is recognised and utilised. In an exemplary fashion, the members of the Berlin Philharmonic scorn all sense of elitism, refuse to accept outdated barriers and are always prepared to venture beyond their own horizons.

The commitment of the musicians of the Berlin Philharmonic serves as a model for creative media work without cultural frontiers.” In his laudation the former director of the public broadcaster ZDF Prof. Dieter Stolte not only emphasised the outstanding musical work of the Berlin Philharmonic but also went on to say: “With this award, the prize committee has recognized the merits an orchestra that is a role model both in respect of its excellent artistic quality and its social commitment to social issues”.

With its projects, the Berlin Philharmonic demonstrates that music and dance, and their artistic processing and presentation in the media, can promote and accelerate the social integration of young people. Culture serves not merely as a framework for artistic communication, but is in fact a central element in our lives that gives people orientation and points the way to the future.”

The Lord Mayor of Aachen, Dr. Jürgen Linden, declared: “The Charlemagne Medal represents today a perfect supplement to the award of the International Charlemagne Prize. The special message carried by this year’s award of the Charlemagne Prize to Javier Solana is the need for stability and peace throughout the world. One essential element of this goal is social peace, the peace in our countries and states and cities. This is precisely the goal to which today's recipient is dedicated.”

On behalf of this year’s recipient, Pamela Rosenberg, director of the Berlin Philharmonic Foundation, said: “It is a challenge to all of us to stimulate creativity in young people and to show them what they are capable of. We are grateful that the award of this medal has brought the public attention and the attention of the media to our work and that they accept and appreciate this subject. Naturally, we are interested in working with politicians and educational authorities in promoting the interests of education.”

The committee's reasons for awarding the prize, as well as the speech of Ms. Frauke Gerlach can be viewed under www.lfm-nrw.de. Former recipients of the Médaille Charlemagne pour les Médias Européens, which was first awarded in 2000, are the British publisher Lord George Weidenfeld, the Dutch author Cees Nooteboom, the film producer Jan Mojto, the French director and Oscar winner Jean- Jacques Annaud, the director of the public broadcaster Westdeutschen Rundfunk, Fritz Pleitgen and, last year, the Polish actress Krystyna Janda.

The prize is awarded by the association “Médaille Charlemagne pour les Médias Européens”, of which the following institutions are members: Landesanstalt für Medien NRW (LfM), the association Medaille Charlemagne pour les Médias Européens e. V., city of Aachen, Filmstiftung NRW, EuroNews, Eurosport S. A., TV5 Deutschland, BBC World, the Belgian Community of German Speakers Deutschsprachige Gemeinschaft Belgien, EOS Entertainment GmbH.

The Charlemagne Medal was designed by the Cologne artist Angela Katzy. It has a diameter of approx. 100 mm and is worked in 925/000 silver. The Lapis Lazuli is set in 750/000 gold; the inner bar is also made of gold. This stands for the line that Charlemagne, who was unable to write, used to attach to his seal in lieu of a signature.