Does He Really Need The Money?
One of the Three Tenors, Placido Domingo, received the first ever Birgit Nillsson Award and the $1 million prize money in Stockholm, Sweden. The prize was awarded to him by King Carl XVI Gustaf at the Royal Swedish Opera.
"This is comparable to the Nobel Prize in music," Domingo said during his acceptance speech.
The late Swedish soprano Birgit Nilsson chose Domingo for the prize almost ten years ago and the secret was to be kept until after her death. Nilsson passed in December of 2005.
The tenor will be using the prize money to set up a Birgit Nilsson category for Wagnerian singers in his opera competition, Operalia.
Domingo said that Nilsson was "one of the greatest artists, if not the greatest."
We're sure Nilsson would appreciate the kind gesture of honoring her memory during Operalia.
But, come on, does it really take a million bucks to do so? We wonder what else that money will be used for?
[Image via WENN.]
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im sorry but who is this?? and why am i supposed to give a fuck
You're just pissed because he has real talent and you do nothing but discover absolute SHIT like Sliimy
"This is comparable to the Nobel Prize in music," Domingo said during his acceptance speech. I guess he meant, due to recent Nobel Prize announcement of Obama as recipient, that it was now deemed worthless. I think he'd prefer the Grammy.
Perez,
"But, come on, does it really take a million bucks to do so? We wonder what else that money will be used for?"
This type of 'analysis' is out of your league/area of expertise. As a nonprofit music organization administrator (not affiliated with Domingo, BTW), I would appreciate if you would not pretend like you know something about this.
Thanks.
Fantastic!
You have no culture or appreciation of the arts Perez - that much is obvious from this website. So it follows that you couldn't be expected to appreciate such things or understand the importance of fostering/encouraging new talent and honoring a legendary artist??
Who are you to question what they money is spent on anyway?
Re: Zombie Hitler – Nein Mein Rotting Fuhrer, Brigitte Nielsen chose Lady KaKa as the recipient including the $2.50 prize money. It was awarded to her by Princess Stephanie of Monaco in the doorway of a Vegas McDonalds.
"This is better than having my syphilis sores scraped clean" Lady KaKa said during her acceptance speech.
This is a perfect example of paying it forward, to other up and coming in the opera genre. It is private money not public money. As others have said you are really out of your league commenting on this issue. Opera for you is probably the noise Lady GaGa makes when having her anal warts removed.
Omg Perez. You know I love you but this time you went too far. Do you have ANY idea of Placido's altruistic work? Do you know how many benefit concerts he gives each year? Did you know he helped raise almost 1mil dollars for Katrina's victims? Did you know he is the founder of OPERALIA? Did you know he is an ambassador AND contributor to HEAR THE WORLD? I challenge you to culture yourself a little: find out what HEAR THE WORLD and OPERALIA are and THEN talk about Placido. You don't have to like classical music to KNOW about it. You don't have to be an opera buff (I hate opera myself) just to have a basic knowledge of who one of the greatest artists on the face of Earth is.
okay…opera, well, the classical arts in general barely get ANY recognition or money. so yeah, it does take a million dollars, if not more, to keep inspiring the next generation of classical singers and praising those who have MUCH MORE talent than any pop "artist" out today.
Doesn't Lady Gaga make more than that? What does she do with her money? I think people should be allowed to do whatever they want with their money. Especially somebody as legendary as Mr. Domingo. how is it wrong to use the money he won to help up and coming new opera singers? That's better than what a lot of your inane celebrities in Hollywood do with their millions. Opera is a dwindling art form because people are just not as cultured or educated as they used to be so I think using 1million dollars to support the art form is not as scandalous as Paris Hilton, whom you adore, who shops and spends money on the latest couture or whatever. Domingo deserved every penny he made throughout his 40 + year career as a leading tenor. He is a legend in opera. Somebody who worked hard for everything he has. He's brilliant and inspirational and the best tenor alive today. He is somebody of substance and real talent that actually means something. Not some plastic hollywood celeb who only serves to lower the standards of talent in our superficial and uneducated society. The music he sings is timeless and are all works of genius. True genius.
The person "Gimme More" ,who made an extremely ignorant comment below, is a perfect example of how uneducated and classless our society has become due in part to the trash that Hollywood and the popular music business deliver to the masses. It's a real shame.
…i'm just surprised perez even bothered to write about classical arts.
He is an operatic genius you moronic idiot (gimmer more). People these days have no culture…outside of their little trailor parks.
Dummy
Yes he deserves it, he is one of the best tenors in the world, maybe ever was.
Yes meaning he is a singer OUTSIDE OF THE US
Good for him
Domingo was the greatest living artist alive even when Pavarotti was still living!!! He knows more in a single brain cell than Perez will ever know in 100 lifetimes!!
Some of you are philistine (look it up) idiots, but I'm so glad to see there are some intelligent, educated people who have posted. I've been a fan of Domingo's for as long as I can remember, thanks to my classy mom who adores opera and raised me with it. I can't think of a more deserving person.
Perez, how dare you suggest Placido Domingo - one of the world's greatest humanitarians - would misuse funds. Wow. There's ignorant and there's IGNORANT. Placido Domingo isn't just "one of the three tenors." Like others said, he's the greatest living tenor, and probably will be viewed as one of the top three ever. His humanitarian work for the victims of Katrina, Darfur and the Mexico City earthquake is well known. He gives his time and money, and lives very modestly for his means. Yes, it does take a million - probably more, coming from his own money - to endow an entire school program with facilities, teachers, scholarships, daily expenses, etc. Isn't it embarrassing to be so ignorant?
BTW, Placido Domingo comes from very poor means, and has worked hard for his status. He works hours every day on his voice, and more hours learning roles, teaching, and working on his various causes. He's an example of someone of substance. Maybe that's why so many people don't recognize him.
Do us a favor Perez, and take a saturday afternoon, go to your nearest participating movie theater and go see an opera streamed live from the Met. You may find yourself in the midst of an amazing art form. I am suprised as anyone that you even mentioned one of the greatest singers and humanitarians alive today, but questioning whether Domingo with use the money for Operalia, especially since arts budgets have been cut to almost nothing in most countries, is the most ridiculous idea I've heard you utter yet. Inform yourself wisely, you are a powerful voice in the youth culture, and you are missing out on one rocking art form! Don't be suspicious, be supportive!
Oh, he's going to send some Bosnian war orphans to university so that they can come back and share their education with their extended family in their homeland. Oh, he's going to feed some MORE hungry children and more heinious stuff like that. This guy, true philanthropist. He was broke. They made up the award. Bro, this time, keep enough to live on. Do the DaFoe. The screen-play alone for what these guys have actually been doing with the money they earn would make Mussolini cry. IF he were alive. Without realizing it, these celebrities are about to expose the Mortensensi lifestyle.
"Yes, yes, we earn billions and look like we live the lifestyle. But, in fact we give it all away, directly to people in need. So, we live in our cars and on our friend's couches. Between movie shoots that is. When the movie company pays for us to have a hotel and regular feedings. We like to make movies. We know where we can sleep those nights."
Kudos to Gustaf for making this award up. Touche'.
Anya Blah, blah, blah The Grand Duchess of Blog-Doom
one word:
ignorant
And who are you, P, to make a judgment about the money in this case???