Riccardo Muti reveals where his Birgit Nilsson prize money is going

Well, half of it anyway. 

Speaking to journalist Armando Torno on Italy's Radio 24, he disclosed that he'll be paying over nearly half of both the $1m Birgit Nilsson and the recently-awarded Paolo Borsellino prize money to the Italian taxman.

He took the opportunity to lash out at colleagues who criticise Italian political policies whilst living outside the country as tax exiles.  "That is their choice and everyone is free to do whatever he wants," he said,  "but you cannot keep up residence outside Italy and spit on your country."

Muti wisely mentioned no names, but the Italian papers were quick to point out that he might have been thinking of Luciano Pavarotti, Andrea Bocelli, Ennio Morricone and Claudio Abbado, all of whom are or were Monaco residents at some point.

Comments

[Hello]

What a clown! He's just found the way to pay taxes through his prize which is free money and he is going to save the rest for next year. Certainly he is exaggerating because the taxes he has to pay are not that high!
Besides he did not mention the money he keeps in the Swiss banks. All his DVDs that are sold through his web site are payable in Swiss francs not in Euro!!!!!!!!!

[Frank]

http://www.france24.com/en/20111127-rome-opera-eyes-global-fame-maestro-muti-opens-season

[Rose-Mary Hyslop]

He makes a good point. But hell, he lives in Italy and they live/d in Monaco. Nuff said!

[What? Really?]

Agree totally @Hello.

I have lost respect for him and his behavious also devalues the prize itself if winners can use it to pay off their tax or dry cleaning bills or whatever. Shameful.

After all, it's only little people who pay taxes.
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Intermezzo replies - I think the point he's making is that he will pay tax on the prize *income*- not that he will use the prize *cash* to pay tax on his other income.

[Rannaldini]

@What? Really?

I'm sure he'll be devastated by your opinion.......

[Julian Hopkins]

Intermezzo makes the obvious point which was the crux of Muti's statement - why is it that news about Muti through the media invariably generates some minority bigoted and ill-informed comment? His 'behaviour' is beyond reproach and he deserves huge acclaim and respect for his professionalism.

[Nikolaus Vogel]

There's a lot not to like about Muti, but his stance here is admirable. The prize is income, and he is presumably on the highest tax-band, so he is paying tax on it in Italy rather than salting it away in some tax-haven. My guess is that this is jibe aimed at his arch-rival and Scala predecessor, Abbado, but Abbado is now officially domiciled in Bologna, so presumably he pays taxes in Italy, too. I wish more wealthy people would stand up and tell their peers that they should be patriotic and pay their taxes. I can't see Cliff Richard - just to take a random name - doing that here, somehow....

[Aliprando]

"I wish more wealthy people would stand up and tell their peers that they should be patriotic and pay their taxes".

In almost all European countries, the politicians are crooks or idiots, abetted by bureaucrats who are incompetent and ineffective. The State is the problem. The patriotic thing is to avoid or even evade taxes. Starve them of easy revenue which will only be wasted!
And, yes, I accept that only Government can do some things, but the West suffers from a bloated State-sector and excessive taxation. I am one of the "little people" who can't reduce his tax, much as I'd like to!
What Maestro Muti decides to do with his winnings is entirely his affair. If that great singer Birgit Nilsson had wanted particular outcomes, she could have made arrangements accordingly.