Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom has appointed Romanian pianist Radu Lupu, one of the most appreciated musicians of his generation, as a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) title for his “services to music,” reports The Guardian.

The Romanian artist’s name is part of a list of personalities from all fields who were set to receive honours from the Queen. The list was published near the New Year and the awards are to be handed out in 2016.

Radu Lupu, born in Romania on November 30, 1945, is a Romanian concert pianist. He is widely known as a leading interpreter of the works of Beethoven, Brahms, Mozart, and Schubert. 

The Romanian musician won the prestigious Van Cliburn in 1966 and the Leeds Piano Competitions in 1969. He has performed the musical capitals and in the major festivals in Europe and the United States, being a regular guest at the Salzburg and Lucerne Festivals. Find out more about him here.

The lists of those who are set to receive honours from the Queen are published twice a year – at the Queen’s official birthday and on New Year’s Day. The most common is the Order of the British Empire which has several ranks: Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE), Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE), Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE), Knight/Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire, and Knight/Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire.

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Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com

(Photo source: festivalenescu.ro)