At the official ceremony on Tuesday, the prize will be presented by King Carl XVI Gustaf to Sophie Joissains, mayor of Aix-en-Provence, and Paul Hermelin, chairman of the festival's board.
The prize gives special recognition to the 2021 world premiere of the opera "Innocence" with music by Kaija Saariaho and original libretto by author Sofi Oksanen. Oksanen will also participate in a public conversation at the Royal Academy of Music prior to the tribute concert about her experiences of collaborating with the festival, along with composer and conductor sir George Benjamin and conductor Klaus Mäkelä.
The leader of the activity, Pierre Audi, who passed away suddenly earlier this year, will also be honored during the ceremony at the Concert Hall.
The Birgit Nilsson Prize, one million dollars, is the world's largest prize in classical music.
