PRESENTATION OF THE GOLDEN JOHANN STRAUSS AWARD 2022
to
Rainer Küchl
On 18th May 2022, the Golden Johann Strauss Award was given to Prof. Rainer Küchl, first concertmaster of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. The ceremony was held in the Marchfelderhof Restaurant. Rainer Küchl, a world-famous violin virtuoso, is the conductor of the Küchl-Quartet and the Vienna Ring-Ensemble.
In his keynote speech, Prof Widholz praised Prof .Küchl’s efforts to render the works of the Strauss family in an authentic way and pass this unique tradition on to the younger generation. It is also noteworthy that he has always tried to revive works which had unjustly fallen into oblivion.
Prof. Küchl was deeply moved and expressed his thanks not only by words, but also by music. The Küchl-Quartet played the Kaiserwalzer and the fast polka Eljen a Magyar.

Among the guests were a great number of distinguished personalities from the world of art and culture, such as Maestro Riccardo Muti, who had worked together with Rainer Küchl for decades, Ks. Sona Ghazarian, Helga Papouschek and Gerhard Ernst, stars of the Volksoper, Prof. Werner Resel, retired president of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, Prof. Froschauer, president-in-office, Ioan Holender, retired director of the Vienna State Opera, and actress Edith Leyrer.

As usual, there were many representatives of the media, among them two camera teams of the ORF and one of a private channel, as well as numerous photographers and journalists. From the numerous reports about this event two newspaper articles will be referenced in their original language.

The artile in „ Die Niederösterreicherin“ concentrates on the personality of Rainer Küchl, who is appreciated for his authentic interpretation of Johann Strauss‘ works.
In an exclusive interview, which took place in the Wiener Musikverein the following day, Riccardo Muti explicitly appreciated the merits and the special significance of the award winner Prof.Rainer Küchl.