Birgit Nilsson prize to Placido Domingo (News Feature)

By Lennart Simonsson Oct 13, 2009, 14:30 GMT

Stockholm - Spanish opera singer Placido Domingo was Tuesday evening to become the first recipient of the Birgit Nilsson Prize aimed at honouring the 'performing artist,' and created by the late Swedish star soprano Birgit Nilsson.

Nilsson who died in December 2005 at age 87 selected the Spanish tenor herself, and set up a foundation to handle future awards.

Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf was to present the award to Domingo at a ceremony in the Royal Swedish Opera.

Worth 1 million dollars, the prize 'is not only the biggest prize in classical music, it is also the first time a prize of this reputation and importance celebrates the performing artist,' Rutbert Reisch, president of the foundation, told the German Press Agency dpa.

'The great work that composers left us are documented in the scores, but someone has to bring them alive, to make the connection between the composer and the audience,' Reisch added.

'As opposed to paintings or sculpture which you can look at directly, for music, you need an interpreter, an artist who brings this music to life,' he said.

'Aspiring young singers' could hopefully be inspired by the prize, Reisch said.

Nilsson and Reisch met in 1965 in Vienna, and formed a friendship that lasted until her death. She later approached him to head the foundation 'and of course you don't say no,' he said although he felt it was a 'great responsibility.'

The prize is to be awarded every second or third year 'for outstanding achievement' in the international field of opera, concert or oratorio. It can be awarded to a singer, conductor or a specific production by an opera company if the production is 'staged in the spirit of the composer.'

In future, a five or six member international jury would be appointed to help select winners, he said, but as yet no jury members have been approached.

Although Domingo was Nilsson's personal choice, Reisch said he didn't think there was 'a more suitable laureate.'

Nilsson and Domingo first sang together in New York at the Metropolitan Opera on February 15, 1969 in a matinee production of Tosca by Giacomo Puccini.

Nilsson at the time remarked that 'Placido acquitted himself splendidly,' praising his singing and acting.

Domingo, 68, has performed over 130 roles, and this year celebrates his 40th year at the Met in New York. His debut in a leading opera role was 1961 with Alfredo in La Traviata at Monterrey, Mexico.

Nilsson (1918-2005) is considered as one of the world's best dramatic sopranos. She was known for her performances in operas by Richard Wagner including The Ring Cycle and Lohengrin, the operas Salome and Elektra by Richard Strauss, Puccini's Tosca as well as Giuseppe Verdi's Aida.

She performed at many leading opera houses and stages including Bayreuth, Vienna, Milan, London, Paris, Munich, New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Buenos Aires, and Stockholm where she made her debut 1946.

Anders Franzen, director of the Royal Swedish Opera, said Nilsson also 'belonged to us,' citing her more than 300 performances in Stockholm but noted that since she spent half her life outside Sweden she also 'belonged to the world.'