Barrie Kosky has received Germany’s Federal Cross of Merit.

The award was given to the Australian director by the country’s Minister of State for Culture, Claudia Roth.

In a statement, Roth said, “The recipients of the Federal Cross of Merit honoured today are united by their commitment to wanting to make our country, our society and our democracy better. They all have the vision of bringing politics and civil society together with art and culture – and they are putting this vision into practice.” This makes the winners “important role models for the people in our country.”

Kosky was artistic director of the Komische Oper Berlin from 2012 to 2022 and under his leadership the company received Opera House of the Year by Opernwelt Magazine.

Over the years the director has directed productions at the Bayerische Staatsoper, the Salzburg Festival, Glyndebourne Festival Opera, Festival Aix en Provence, Oper Frankfurt, Opera Zurich, Opéra National de Paris, and Royal Opera House Covent Garden.

Kosky received the honor alongside dramaturg Mustafa Akça, musicologist Eva Rieger, and choir director and teacher Sabine Wüsthoff.