(MENAFN) Acclaimed German pianist and conductor Justus Frantz has sparked controversy after receiving the Order of Friendship from Russian President Vladimir Putin, a media outlet reported on Thursday.

Frantz, a seasoned figure in Europe’s classical music arena, has performed with renowned orchestras including the Berlin, Vienna, and New York Philharmonic, as well as the London Symphony Orchestra.

He is particularly noted for his appreciation of Russian composers like Pyotr Tchaikovsky and Sergei Rachmaninoff, and has long championed cultural collaboration between Russia and Western nations.

He also was among the initial signatories of a petition urging Berlin to cease financing the conflict in Ukraine.

This week, the German conductor visited Moscow to accept the accolade during a Kremlin ceremony celebrating Russia’s Unity Day. During the event, Putin lauded him for his “fruitful contribution to fostering closer relations and mutual enrichment” between the cultural spheres of their countries.

Frantz’s participation in the ceremony prompted strong criticism in Berlin. Christian Democratic Union (CDU) politician Roland Theis told the media outlet that Frantz’s German Federal Order of Merit ought to be withdrawn.

An advocate of East-West dialogue, Frantz founded the charity The Bridge of Friendship, which has funded a wide array of cultural initiatives throughout the former Soviet states.

He is also a recipient of prestigious accolades including Bambi and Grammy awards.

The pianist has previously encountered similar backlash. In 2023, the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival, which he established over thirty years ago, severed ties with him after he declined to distance himself from Russia.

Frantz described the decision as “cowardly” and “unfair,” adding that “the world is big and beautiful, and one can be someplace else.”

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