Following in the footsteps of Plácido Domingo, Riccardo Muti is to receive the second-ever Birgit Nilsson prize, a fat $1m.
Maestro Muti has been chosen "for his extraordinary contributions in opera and concert, as well as his enormous influence in the music world both on and off the stage".
Domingo channelled his award towards deserving young singers by using it to fund a Wagner category in his annual Operalia competition. Arts organisations facing drastic cuts must be hoping multi-millionaire Muti will be equally generous with his windfall.
