Yo-Yo Ma awarded Birgit Nilsson Prize
Florence Lockheart
Wednesday, October 19, 2022
Awarded every three years, the prize celebrates artists and institutions who contribute to the continuation of their art form
American cellist Yo-Yo Ma has been awarded Swedish classical music prize, the Birgit Nilsson Prize. Ma becomes the fifth recipient and only first instrumentalist to be awarded this prize.
Ma received the prize yesterday evening at an award ceremony held at Konserthuset Stockholm which featured the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic and conductor Patrik Ringborg, the Swedish Radio Choir, Royal Swedish Opera Choir, as well as soloists Maria Bengtsson, Amalie Stalheim, Johanna Wallroth and Emma Sventelius.
Susanne Rydén, president of the Birgit Nilsson Foundation said ‘Witnessing the joy that Yo-Yo Ma's presence in Stockholm has generated this week makes us proud of having presented him with the 2022 Prize and the ceremony was a beautiful occasion to celebrate both Yo-Yo Ma’s achievements and the legacy of Birgit Nilsson.’
Presented by His Majesty King Carl XVI Gustaf, the Birgit Nilsson Prize was first given to tenor and conductor Plácido Domingo in 2009 and is awarded approximately every 3 years. Other previous Birgit Nilsson Prize recipients are conductor Riccardo Muti, The Vienna Philharmonic and soprano Nina Stemme.
Designed to celebrate artists and institutions who contribute to the continuation of their art form, prize winners must have ‘impeccable musicianship and expressiveness, interpretive prowess, unquestionable commitment to serve first and foremost the composer’ as well as ‘an exceptional performance record, preferably over two decades or more’ and ‘thorough professionalism in observing contracts and keeping commitments.’
The Prize will support Ma’s ongoing work to explore the impact of culture on building connection and advocating for the planet. He said: ‘As I leave Sweden tomorrow, I will carry with me these forever memories ... But l will also leave with a promise, a commitment to practice the values Birgit Nilsson held so dear: joy and humour, closeness to the land and to nature, and a life in balance with others and with our planet.’
