Birgit Nilsson Prize
Encyclopedia
The Birgit Nilsson
Prize is an international music prize founded by the famous opera singer herself. It awards a single performing artist, a conductor or a production in the field of opera or classical music with one million dollars.
The dramatic soprano Birgit Nilsson (1918 - 2005) decided towards the end of her career to establish a foundation for a prize to be awarded every second or third year in the amount of one million dollars for ”outstanding achievements by, a singer in the field of opera or concert or oratorio, or a conductor in the classical field of opera or concert, or
a specific production by an opera company, as long as this production is outstandingly cast and conducted and, most importantly, staged in the spirit of the composer.”
The award was announced to the public only three years after the death of its founder by the Birgit Nilsson Foundation in Stockholm
on 5 December 2008. It was the wish of Birgit Nilsson that the award had to be kept secret until then.
.
Plácido Domingo’s worldwide career is legendary - singing 130 different roles, more than any other tenor in history. Domingo’s musicality is confirmed by his extraordinary repertoire and singing career as well as his accomplishments as a conductor, administrator, humanitarian, and creator of young artist programs and competitions.
Birgit Nilsson and Plácido Domingo first sang together in New York at the Metropolitan Opera on February 15, 1969 in a matinee production of Tosca. Nilsson remarked that "Plácido acquitted himself splendidly. He was an incredibly good Cavaradossi, his acting was superb — he was the part, he loved the part and on top there was gorgeous singing."
A collegial recognition of Birgit’s artistry was evident during a television interview several years ago when Plácido Domingo was asked what musical recordings he cherished most – he answered, "One of my all-time favorites is ‘In questa reggia’ sung by Birgit Nilsson but the recording cannot compare to the sound I heard when singing with her.
won the second ever Birgit Nilsson prize in 2011. Cited for his "extraordinary contributions in opera and concert, as well as his enormous influence in the music world both on and off the stage."
The first award ceremony of the Birgit Nilsson Prize took place at the Royal Swedish Opera
in Stockholm
on 13 October 2009. On the very stage where Birgit Nilsson made her debut, King Carl Gustaf of Sweden presented the Prize personally to star tenor, conductor and opera house director Plácido Domingo
. The musical programme starred the Swedish Soprano Nina Stemme
and the German conductor Gregor Bühl. "The Prize money will greatly benefit my annual competition Operalia," said the recipient Plácido Domingo. In an emotional speech, he further said it was "unbelievable" to be standing on the stage where Nilsson had performed so many times, calling her "one of the greatest artists, if not the greatest."
Birgit Nilsson
right|thumb|Nilsson in 1948.Birgit Nilsson was a celebrated Swedish dramatic soprano who specialized in operatic and symphonic works...
Prize is an international music prize founded by the famous opera singer herself. It awards a single performing artist, a conductor or a production in the field of opera or classical music with one million dollars.
a specific production by an opera company, as long as this production is outstandingly cast and conducted and, most importantly, staged in the spirit of the composer.”
The award was announced to the public only three years after the death of its founder by the Birgit Nilsson Foundation in Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
on 5 December 2008. It was the wish of Birgit Nilsson that the award had to be kept secret until then.
First Winner
Birgit Nilsson herself chose the first prize-winner and put the chosen name in a sealed envelope to be opened three years after her death, which was on Christmas Day 2005. The envelope was opened in February 2009 and the first winner is the opera tenor and conductor Plácido DomingoPlácido Domingo
Plácido Domingo KBE , born José Plácido Domingo Embil, is a Spanish tenor and conductor known for his versatile and strong voice, possessing a ringing and dramatic tone throughout its range...
.
Plácido Domingo’s worldwide career is legendary - singing 130 different roles, more than any other tenor in history. Domingo’s musicality is confirmed by his extraordinary repertoire and singing career as well as his accomplishments as a conductor, administrator, humanitarian, and creator of young artist programs and competitions.
Birgit Nilsson and Plácido Domingo first sang together in New York at the Metropolitan Opera on February 15, 1969 in a matinee production of Tosca. Nilsson remarked that "Plácido acquitted himself splendidly. He was an incredibly good Cavaradossi, his acting was superb — he was the part, he loved the part and on top there was gorgeous singing."
A collegial recognition of Birgit’s artistry was evident during a television interview several years ago when Plácido Domingo was asked what musical recordings he cherished most – he answered, "One of my all-time favorites is ‘In questa reggia’ sung by Birgit Nilsson but the recording cannot compare to the sound I heard when singing with her.
Second Winner
Riccardo MutiRiccardo Muti
Riccardo Muti, Cavaliere di Gran Croce OMRI is an Italian conductor and music director of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.-Childhood and education:...
won the second ever Birgit Nilsson prize in 2011. Cited for his "extraordinary contributions in opera and concert, as well as his enormous influence in the music world both on and off the stage."
Award Ceremony
Royal Swedish Opera
Kungliga Operan is Sweden's national stage for opera and ballet.-Location and Environment:...
in Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
on 13 October 2009. On the very stage where Birgit Nilsson made her debut, King Carl Gustaf of Sweden presented the Prize personally to star tenor, conductor and opera house director Plácido Domingo
Plácido Domingo
Plácido Domingo KBE , born José Plácido Domingo Embil, is a Spanish tenor and conductor known for his versatile and strong voice, possessing a ringing and dramatic tone throughout its range...
. The musical programme starred the Swedish Soprano Nina Stemme
Nina Stemme
Nina Stemme is an opera singer known for her warm, solid spinto soprano voice, with some qualities of a dramatic soprano....
and the German conductor Gregor Bühl. "The Prize money will greatly benefit my annual competition Operalia," said the recipient Plácido Domingo. In an emotional speech, he further said it was "unbelievable" to be standing on the stage where Nilsson had performed so many times, calling her "one of the greatest artists, if not the greatest."