Susanna Mälkki has recently been named a Commander of France’s Ordre des Arts et des Lettres. Previously given the title of Officer, this upgraded designation for Ms. Mälkki is the highest honor awarded by the order and is limited to up to 20 recipients per year.
With origins attributed to the Order of Saint Michael from 1469, The Ordre des Arts et des Lettres is an order of France established in 1957 by the Minister of Culture which aims to recognize significant contributions to the arts, literature, or the propagation of these fields. Ms. Mälkki joins a gifted group of accomplished individuals who’ve received this great distinction including Audrey Hepburn, Merryl Streep and T.S. Eliot.