AIX-en-Provence: Music festival receives prestigious Birgit Nilsson Prize!

AIX-en-Provence: Music festival receives prestigious Birgit Nilsson Prize!

Aix-en-Provence, Frankreich - The prestigious music festival of Aix-en-Provence in France is awarded the Birgit Nilsson Prize 2025. This price, which is endowed with a doping of $ 1 million (approx. 889,601 euros), is considered the highest classical award in the world. The announcement was made by Susanne Rydén, the President of the Birgit Nilsson Foundation, and marks a historical moment, as it is the first time that a music festival is considered with this respected award. Previous award winners include well-known sizes such as the Vienna Philharmonic, Plácido Domingo and Yo-Yo Ma. This underlines the importance of the award for outstanding artistic achievements in the field of classical music.

The decision was made on May 21, 2025, and the festival receives the award for its remarkable artistic contributions and for his commitment to developing new operas. The premiere of the “Innocence” opera by Kaija Saariaho, which took place in 2021 as part of the festival, was particularly emphasized. This production is considered groundbreaking and corresponds to the claim of the festival to present innovative and high quality operas.

recognition of Pierre Audi

Another sad chapter in the history of the festival is the recent death of Pierre Audi, the long -time festival manager who died in early May 2025. Audi had emphasized in a prepared video message that the Birgit Nilsson Prize will help the festival to promote new works and combine innovation with quality. With the awarding of the price, his commitment to the further development of the festival and the promotion of new operas is recognized.

The Birgit Nilsson Prize is awarded every three years by the foundation, which was founded in 2005 in honor of the Swedish soprano Birgit Nilsson. The prize will be made on October 21, 2025 in the Stockholm concert hall by Sweden King Carl XVI. Gustaf presented. AIX-en-Provence has been the first festival since 2009, which can take this prestigious price.

insight into the festival

The Festival d’Aix-en-Provence, which was founded in 1948, will take place this year from July 4th to 21st. It has developed into one of the most important opera festivals in Europe and attracts numerous visitors and artists every year. The award with the Birgit Nilsson Prize recognizes the continuous efforts of the festival to present both classic and modern operas in an outstanding artistic framework. The jury of the Birgit Nilsson Foundation has awarded the festival for its artistic achievements and the commitment in the development of new operas.