Martha Argerich has been awarded the Royal Philharmonic Society Medal by RPS Chairman John Gilhooly, who said: 'Martha Argerich’s combination of technical mastery and passionate artistry make her one of the most compelling and expressive pianists, and her extraordinary live performances are a musical and intellectual tour de force. She is a consummate chamber music collaborator. It is this spirit of collaboration that led to the Progetto Martha Argerich at the Lugano International Festival, now in its 15th year, through which she demonstrates her enduring generosity and personal commitment to emerging musicians and by mixing established and up-and-coming artists has created many inspirational chamber music partnerships.'

The RPS Medal was first awarded in 1870 and Argerich is the 101st recipient. Other notable winners of the Medal include Johannes Brahms (1877), Edward Elgar (1925), Herbert von Karajan (1984) and Antonio Pappano (2015).