The prize ceremony will be livestreamed for free from Stockholm at 6PM CEST on 18 October
On the evening of 18 October, Yo-Yo Ma will be presented with the Birgit Nilsson Prize at the Stockholm Konserthus by His Majesty King Carl XVI Gustaf in a ceremony and musical celebration featuring the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic, Swedish Radio Choir and Royal Swedish Opera Choir.
During Ma’s visit to Stockholm he also met with young cellists from across the country (aged 11 - 17), who were invited to hear him perform in concert on 16 October with the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic and Alan Gilbert.
Worth US $1 million, the Birgit Nilsson Prize is the largest prize in classical music and is awarded to artists and institutions who have contributed an important chapter to music history. Previous recipients are Plácido Domingo, Riccardo Muti, the Vienna Philharmonic and Nina Stemme. Ma is the first instrumentalist to receive the prize.
As supporting and inspiring the next generation is a priority for both Ma and the Birgit Nilsson Foundation, three young artists have been invited to participate as soloists during the concert. Amalie Stalheim will play an excerpt from Anders Hillborg’s Cello Concerto and recent Birgit Nilsson Stipendium artists, Johanna Wallroth (soprano) and Emma Sventelius (mezzo-soprano), will perform the closing Terzett and Finale from Richard Strauss’ Der Rosenkavalier with soprano Maria Bengsston in the role of Marschallin.
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