Placido Domingo Awarded $1 Million Nilsson Prize
Spanish Tenor the First Recipient of New Opera Award
Feb 23, 2009
One of the famous three tenors, Placido Domingo was announced to be the first recipient of the $1 million Birgit Nilsson Prize, a hefty sum for classical music awards. Selected for his "unrivaled" contributions to opera, the 68-year-old tenor has performed over 130 roles and currently directs two opera companies.
Created to honor outstanding contributions to opera and concert music, the new award was established by Swedish soprano Birgit Nilsson with plans to distribute a prize every two or three years after her death, which occurred in December 2005. Though she had determined as early as the 90s that her colleague Domingo should be awarded the first prize, it wasn't until the final months of her life that she finally sealed the name in an envelope.
From Tosca to Turandot: Birgit Nilsson and Placido Domingo's Mutual Respect
Choosing Domingo as the first recipient of the prize was Nilsson's way of putting money where her mouth was, in terms of respect for a fellow artisan. The two singers performed together in 1969 in a matinee performance of Tosca, and Nilsson was impressed by the 28-year-old tenor's talents. According to the Birgit Nilsson Foundation, the soprano remarked afterwards that "Placido 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."
The respect was mutual. The two would go on to perform together again, including in a New York Metropolitan Opera performance of Turandot. Domingo released a statement on Friday noting how Nilsson's voice was so beautiful in that production that he himself "almost forgot to continue singing."
Birgit Nilsson: Signature Wagnerian Opera Star
In 1918, Birgit Nilsson was born into a small farming community in Sweden. Her family had farmed the area for six generations, and she was expected to do the same. However, a stint in the nearby choir revealed the 10-year-old's budding vocal talents.
In 1941, despite the qualms of her parents, who still thought she should take more home economics courses and settle down as a farmer's wife, she left for Stockholm to attend the Academy of Music. She soon transferred to the Royal Opera School, graduating in 1946. Thirteen years later in 1959, she was making her New York Metropolitan debut as Isolde in Wagner's Tristan und Isolde. That performance sealed her talents as a big-voiced Wagnerian singer and by the following year, she was making one of the top salaries in opera.
Yet despite all her fame, she remained down to earth, never hiring staff to attend to her needs. And through her foundation, her legacy will continue to reward others whose talents and determination took them to the stage as well. Not bad for a farmer's daughter.
Sources
Huizenga, Tom. "Placido Domingo Wins $1 Million Opera Prize." February 20, 2009. NPR Music.
Nordstrom, Louise. "Placido Domingo Wins $1M Nilsson Prize for Opera." February 20, 2009. WTOP.
"Birgit Nilsson Biography." Musician Guide.
 |
