Fischer is the second Hungarian musician to receive the prize after György Ligeti.

The prize-givers are awarding Fischer for his work as conductor of the Vienna State Opera, the Düsseldorf Symphony, the Danish National Chamber Orchestra, the Austro-Hungarian Haydn Orchestra and others, as well as for his political activism.

Fischer is a member of the Hungarian Helsinki Committee.

The prize is awarded by the Wolf Foundation with the co-operation of the Israeli government in nine categories annually.

The awards will be presented in the Knesset in late May. McCartney and Fischer will split a $100,000 prize.