The musician, born in Igualada, received the award on Saturday afternoon in Munich at a ceremony held at the Prinzregententheater. The event featured performances by the Capella Reial de Catalunya and Hespèrion XXI, ensembles founded by Savall himself, which were met with a prolonged ovation.

This recognition honors Savall's career for his dedication to recovering and promoting the viola da gamba and Catalan early music, establishing him as a global reference. The prize, awarded by the Bavarian Academy of Fine Arts, has been presented since 1974 and has honored figures such as Mstislav Rostropovich, Daniel Barenboim, Herbert von Karajan, Benjamin Britten, and Leonard Bernstein. In Spain, only guitarist Andrés Segovia had previously received it.

With over 50 years in the industry, Savall is the founder of Hespèrion XXI, the Capella Reial de Catalunya, and the orchestra Le Concert des Nations. He also co-founded the record label Alia Vox with Montserrat Figueras and established a festival dedicated to early music. The award joins other accolades such as a Grammy Award, the Léonie Sonning Music Prize, and his designation by UNESCO as an Artist for Peace.

The Minister of Culture, Sònia Hernández, attended the event to convey the congratulations of the Generalitat de Catalunya government to the musician for this prestigious recognition.