Domingo wins million dollar music prize
The late Swedish soprano Birgit Nilsson (pictured) left a rich secret when she died in 2005 – her choice for the first winner of her million dollar music prize, tenor Placido Domingo.
Nilsson, a great admirer of the Spanish singer since they first performed together in 1969, chose him as inaugural winner of the biggest prize in classical music for his “unrivalled” contributions to the world of opera, the award foundation said today.
Domingo returned the admiration.
“Birgit personified musical excellence and that’s why she was a role model for me even before we sang together,” Domingo said in a statement released in New York.
When he and Nilsson sang in “Turandot” at New York’s Metropolitan Opera, Domingo said, “there were moments when I was so overwhelmed with admiration for her vocal abilities and power that I almost forgot to continue singing.
“To be honoured by such an esteemed colleague means everything to me, ” he said.
Officials of the Birgit Nilsson Foundation said Domingo’s name had been kept secret for nearly a decade. The reasons for that were not given, but plans for the creation of the posthumous Birgit Nilsson Prize were under way long before she died at age 87.
“She wanted to honour one of the greatest opera singers of all time, whose contributions to the world of opera and concert are unrivalled,” foundation president Rutbert Reisch said in a statement announcing Domingo as the winner.
Domingo has performed in 130 roles and is celebrating his 40th season at New York’s Metropolitan Opera.
The 68-year-old singer also won worldwide acclaim outside the opera scene as one of The Three Tenors, with Jose Carreras and the late Luciano Pavarotti.
Domingo will receive the Birgit Nilsson Prize in a formal award ceremony later this year, the foundation said.
