The jury noted how “director Jan Schmidt-Garre and pianist Francesco Piemontesi went to meet older colleagues who could provide information about their secrets of piano playing. This wonderfully compiled film explains the fascination of the piano and illustrates how it transcends its own limitations. The result is a fantastic documentary and an outstanding homage to the piano.”

Filming of The Alchemy of the Piano took place over a whole year, with Piemontesi heard in conversation with some of the world’s leading performers, including his mentor Alfred Brendel, Maria João Pires, Stephen Kovacevich and Antonio Pappano. The result is a series of revealing encounters that illuminate their individual approaches to the instrument, its colour and form.

The winners of the 2026 ICMA Awards will receive their trophies at the annual awards ceremony, which will take place at the Keilberth Hall in Bamberg on 18 March 2026.