Page 3 – Birgit Nilsson Prize

Post published:16 May, 2019

ICMA AWARDS IN LUCERNE

Rutbert Reisch travelled to Switzerland on 10 May to receive the International Classical Music Award (ICMA) for Best Historical Recording of the Year, which was awarded to Birgit Nilsson: The Great Live Recordings at a ceremony in Lucerne’s KKL Concert Hall. The 31 CD live box set, which was curated by the Birgit Nilsson Foundation to celebrate the 100th anniversary in 2018, was released as a limited edition on Sony and sold out within months. On presenting the award, the…

Post published:14 March, 2019

The Great Performance team at WNET broadcast the Birgit Nilsson documentary: A League of Her Own

The Great Performances team at WNET will broadcasting the Birgit Nilsson documentary: A League of Her Own – premiering Friday, March 22 at 9 p.m. on PBS (check local listings) This illuminating documentary about Birgit Nilsson’s life in the arts features rare television and archival footage highlighting her remarkable talents, and features interviews with friends and fellow opera luminaries, including Plácido Domingo, Marilyn Horne, Nina Stemme, Jonas Kaufmann and many others. Birgit Nilsson: A League of Her Own social media toolkit Embeddable trailer with more…

Post published:11 February, 2019

Nina Stemme, Lyric’s high-powered Elektra, recalls her cosmic trek from the world of Mimi

Superstar soprano, recipient of the Birgit Nilsson Prize, says an early competition she lost proved to be an unexpected gift. By Dennis PolkowBy this point in soprano Nina Stemme’s operatic journey, the high-intensity role of Richard Strauss’ “Elektra” has emerged as a signature piece. Indeed, the Swedish singer and reigning Wagnerian soprano, who currently performs the distraught and vengeful Elektra in her debut with the Lyric Opera of Chicago, all but owns the part. She is the foremost Elektra in the world today,…

Award Ceremony 2018

Recipient 2018: Nina Stemme

The Swedish dramatic soprano, Nina Stemme, was the fourth recipient of the Birgit Nilsson Prize, awarded in the year which also celebrated the 100th anniversary of Birgit NIlsson’s birth. Nina Stemme is in great demand worldwide. She is a frequent guest at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, La Scala in Milan, Wiener Staatsoper, Opera Bastille in Paris and the Royal Opera Houses in London and Stockholm, to name just a few. As a dramatic soprano, Stemme has continued the…

Post published:17 May, 2018

Birgit Nilsson Prize 2018 to Nina Stemme

Nina Stemme has been announced as the recipient of the 2018 Birgit Nilsson Prize Internationally famous Swedish-born soprano Nina Stemme is in great demand worldwide. She is a frequent guest at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, La Scala in Milan, Wiener Staatsoper, Opera Bastille in Paris and the Royal Opera Houses in London and Stockholm, to name just a few. As a dramatic soprano, Nina Stemme has continued the great tradition of Kirsten Flagstad and Birgit Nilsson. She has…

Post published:Press - 17 May, 2018

Birgit Nilsson Foundation Announces 2018 Birgit Nilsson Prize to NINA STEMME

Birgit Nilsson Foundation President Rutbert Reisch announced today in Stockholm that the Birgit Nilsson Prize for 2018 will be awarded to Nina Stemme. The Prize Award Ceremony will take place in the presence of Their Majesties King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia on October 11, 2018 at the Royal Opera House in Stockholm, Sweden, at which time the Prize will be presented by His Majesty. At the ceremony, the Royal Opera Orchestra led by American conductor Evan Rogister will accompany renowned Welsh bass-baritone Bryn Terfel…

Award Ceremony 2014

Recipient 2014: Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra

The third recipient of the Birgit Nilsson Prize was the Vienna Philharmonic and, on the occasion of the Award Ceremony in October 2014, the entire orchestra flew to Sweden and performed on stage at the Stockholm Konserthus under the direction of Riccardo Muti, in the presence of H.M. King Carl XVI Gustaf and H.M. Queen Silvia. “No singer stands alone on the opera stage and the highest performance standards can only be achieved with partners who bring the same passion…

Award Ceremony 2011

Recipient 2011: Riccardo Muti

The second recipient of the Birgit Nilsson Prize was conductor Riccardo Muti, recognized for exemplifying all of the qualities that were so important to Birgit Nilsson: passion, dedication and extraordinary work over many decades. “When I heard that the Birgit Nilsson Foundation had chosen me for this distinguished award, I was deeply touched by the jury’s accolade” said Riccardo Muti. “All the more so given my profound admiration for this unique and extraordinary artist, both as an incomparable musician and…

Award Ceremony 2009

Recipient 2009: Plácido Domingo

Plácido Domingo was the first recipient of the Birgit Nilsson Prize, chosen by Nilsson herself. Yet the announcement was not made until February 2009, three years after Birgit Nilsson’s death and 40 years after her first collaboration with Domingo, performing Tosca at the Metropolitan Opera in New York. “Plácido Domingo’s worldwide career is legendary - singing 130 different roles, more than any other tenor in history” commented, Rutbert Reisch, President of the Birgit Nilsson Foundation. “His musicality is confirmed by…