"Outrageously talented" – this is how laudator and fellow actress Teresa Weißbach praised the first European Culture Prize winner, Matthias Schweighöfer, who was one of the first stars to grace the red carpet, particularly celebrated by Chemnitz fans. In the European Capital of Culture, he not only won the coveted award, but also a homecoming: From the Karl-Marx-Stadt school theater, he had once made it to the international cinema screens at lightning speed, becoming one of the most versatile talents on stage and, above all, in front of the camera. Under the watchful eye of his first drama teacher from his school days in Chemnitz, he accepted the coveted award and expressed his gratitude with a thoughtful look back on his ten years in the city: "Culture doesn't emerge where everyone thinks the same, but culture emerges where someone has learned to be different."

Music journalist and educator Malte Arkona couldn't have summed it up better in his laudatory speech for this year's young talent award winner: "The Dresden Kreuzchor has reinvented itself time and again, has experienced many turbulent times. And it combines the most beautiful things Dresden has to offer – culture, creativity, character." It's not for nothing that the more than 800-year-old ensemble, which remains eternally youthful, is part of UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage. "You Kreuzians have understood that the loudest person is not the most important, but that togetherness only works through listening." Kreuzkantor Martin Lehmann also emphasized this in his acceptance speech, which was primarily directed at institutional cultural funding and intended the award to be understood as "a tribute to every singing child": "When you listen to one another, it is possible to find togetherness."

Katarina Witt was already on stage at the European Culture Award in Bonn in 2021 – as a laudatory speaker for Till Brönner. She returned to Chemnitz in front of her family as a visibly moved award winner: honored for her unique career and decades of social commitment with her own charitable foundation. "Carmen" on the ice – and a role model in life. The award was presented to her by a special and long-time companion – Brian Boitano, Olympic champion and friend, with whom she has shaped the history of figure skating worldwide. The fact that this moment took place in her sporting hometown of Chemnitz was a very special moment, one that moved both the audience and the award winner herself to tears. For Kati Witt, it was also a homecoming: She did not forget to thank her parents, teachers, coaches, and educators who shaped her early life in what was then Karl-Marx-Stadt – this year's Capital of Culture.

"A huge name in the world and still charming": This is how laudator and fellow musician Friedrich Liechtenstein aptly summed up what international fans appreciate about DJ Purple Disco Machine. Tino Piontek's sound not only rocks clubs, but also exports Saxon creativity all over the world. The former chef now plays concerts in front of 70.000 people, has 37 platinum and 14 gold records on his shelf – and yet has remained down to earth. Because even though the 44-year-old from humble Dresden background has long since shared huge world stages with other international stars such as Elton John, Britney Spears and the Rolling Stones, the second Saxon Grammy winner in history has always remained true to himself. Despite this – or perhaps because of this – his success is gigantic, even if he doesn't care much about externals. He returned his congratulations to the European Capital of Culture: "I'm also happy for Chemnitz, which is otherwise always overshadowed by Leipzig and Dresden. And I thank my wife for accompanying me here on our wedding day."

Courageous, modern, masterful – and still a male domain: Cultural Prize winner Anna Rakitina represents a new generation of conductors and is a guest conductor with many of the world's leading orchestras. She has now performed with the Robert Schumann Philharmonic Orchestra once again, thrilling the opera house as host of the European Cultural Prize Gala. Laudator Maren Eggert, who as an actress herself slipped into the role of conductor and took special lessons for this, particularly praised the lifelong learning process from instrument to conductor's podium: "Anna's resonating body is not her own body, but an entire orchestra, and she shows us how long the path of a conductor really is." Anna Rakitina completed her conducting studies in Hamburg and simultaneously earned her doctorate in musicology. After various master classes and successful competition appearances, she achieved rapid success as assistant conductor with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Since then, she has performed with top-ranking orchestras all over the world and worked with first-class soloists. Her great passion is contemporary music.

A tenor who touches the hearts of listeners – with his voice, poise, and heart. Maltese star tenor Joseph Calleja was awarded the European Culture Prize for Music in Chemnitz – presented by his compatriot Nicole Frendo, who once sang in his choir as a child and remains inspired by him to this day. "You have always played a special role in Maltese culture!" Thus, in a miraculous way, the circle of artistic kinship was closed. Last but not least, Calleja stands for both the highest artistic standards and social commitment and the promotion of young musicians – values ​​that the European Cultural Forum has also passionately shared and supported for years. Calleja was visibly honored and emphasized the "great importance of culture in surreal times like these."

"The mountain is already the greatest possible stage; it needs no staging." "Mountain Doctor" Hans Sigl was only too happy to quote this statement by cultural award winner Reinhold Messner in his laudatory speech for his friend. He praised Messner as "one of the greatest athletes of his time, who decisively changed the culture of mountaineers; who ensured that we understand our nature today as part of our culture, which reminds us to simply let the earth be earth." After all, as the first person to climb all 14 eight-thousanders without supplemental oxygen, Messner set new standards in a discipline that requires courage, endurance, and humility before nature. He has dedicated his entire commitment to it for many years. Arguably the most famous mountaineer in the world, South Tyrol, also used the opportunity on the Chemnitz stage to advocate for the preservation of creation and admonished humanity not to take it for its own, as is currently happening on Mount Everest, for example. We cannot conquer the mountains, but people. And only proper mountaineering without tourist mummery is “the only way for humans to encounter untamed nature.”

Olga Peretyatko enchants and convinces – even before the first note is played. "She learned to fight her way through early on," said laudator and jeweler Georg Leicht of the St. Petersburg soprano, who initially studied choral conducting in her home country and only later decided to study singing in Germany. Since then, the true prima donna has been at home on stages all over the world, from Vienna to New York, and thrilled the enraptured audience on the Chemnitz stage with an aria from Mozart's opera "Don Giovanni." In her brief acceptance speech, with words that were half humble, half thoughtful, she expressed her gratitude for the honor in the spirit of Europe and expressed an important hope: "Our responsibility as artists is to foster understanding between different countries and cultures in order to create peace."

"If Robert Schumann had known that the orchestra founded in 1833 during his lifetime would one day be named after him – after all, it is one of the oldest orchestras in Germany!" A visibly enthusiastic laudator Katrin Weber presented the Robert Schumann Philharmonic, as host of the evening following the ECHO 2009, with the European Culture Prize of the Year 2025. Artistic director and host Christoph Dittrich accepted the award on behalf of the highly honored winner. Concertmaster Heidrun Sandmann-Poscharsky expressed her gratitude with "incredible pride and full of hope for a future that is, above all, not quiet." With more than 180 performances and ten symphony concerts per season, the Robert Schumann Philharmonic is far more than the resident ensemble of the Chemnitz Opera. As an orchestra of international renown, it shapes the cultural life of its city and far beyond.

Over 70 and not a bit tired: From every corner of the red carpet, Alphaville frontman Marian Gold had to sign autographs, sign old, well-kept record covers, and pose for selfies. A great joy for the veteran singer with over 40 years of stage experience. At the cultural awards ceremony, he also paid tribute to his hosts from Chemnitz: "What I learned about this city this evening far exceeds my original expectations. It's beautiful in Chemnitz!" In his laudatory speech, Saxony's Prime Minister Michael Kretschmer acknowledged that the band, which won the award in the Capital of Culture, had been a role model for many people. Especially during the Cold War, when they landed their early global hits with songs like "Forever Young" and "Big in Japan." Because they not only shaped the sound of an era – they charged pop music with a longing for a better world. Their music is both a memory and a new beginning – and remains what it always was: unique. “An unforgettable sound from a golden age,” said the Prime Minister.

"A mixture of gentleman and gladiator" – football legend Reiner Calmund could hardly have put it better in his laudatory speech for the European Culture Prize winner Michael Ballack: "You were not only a great football star, you are still a European character." Ballack's career began in what was then Karl-Marx-Stadt at his hometown club FC, before going on to achieve global success at Bayern Munich, Chelsea, and as captain of the German national team. Michael was correspondingly "emotional" about receiving the European Culture Prize in his hometown: "This is where I grew up and went to school, this is where I scored my first goal, but this is also where I received my education and learned discipline and resilience." A very special moment – ​​both on the red carpet and on the Chemnitz stage of the European Culture Prize. Not just for football fans, but for everyone who longs for great role models who have their feet on the ground.