The British rock group Queen, American jazz icon Herbie Hancock, and Canadian soprano and conductor Barbara Hannigan have been named as the 2025 recipients of the Polar Music Prize.
The three performances will be honored with an award by the Swedish royal family during a ceremony on May 27 in Stockholm.
Established in 1989 by ABBA’s manager, Stig Anderson, the Polar Music Prize is presented annually to typically one modern and one classical artist. Every recipient gets 1 million Swedish Kronor (approximately €91,000). Notable past recipients include Paul McCartney , Chuck Berry and Ravi Shankar.
This marks just the third instance in the award's history where two musicians weren't recognized. In 2001, three honorees were selected, including an American musician. Burt Bacharach ; German composer Karlheinz Stockhausen; along with inventor Robert Moog, renowned for his work MiniMoog synthesizers Two years later, in 2003, the award was bestowed upon a single recipient: American jazz composer Keith Jarrett.
For the first time in 2025, the committee has decided to award prizes to three musicians, with one recipient from each of the following genres: contemporary, jazz, and classical.
Brian May, Roger Taylor, and John Deacon from Queen stated that they felt "profoundly honored to receive the Polar Music Prize this year. It's amazing, thank you very much."
Hancock stated that receiving this honor was "a remarkable distinction, and I feel both exhilaration and humility at being chosen. Those who received this accolade previously have profoundly impacted human history with their exceptional instances of motivation and commitment."
Hannigan concluded by saying, "Receiving this year's Polar Music Prize has left me profoundly touched and humble. I'm extremely grateful to be counted amongst such an amazing and inspirational roster of laureates."
The immense influence of Queen as one of Britain's leading rock bands is difficult to exaggerate. Formed in 1970 with the charismatic lead singer Freddie Mercury, the band has achieved global album sales exceeding 300 million copies. Their iconic appearance at Live Aid and the subsequent Academy Award-winning biography have only added to their legendary status. Bohemian Rhapsody And with the Broadway musical 'We Will Rock You,'Queen stands as one of the most lasting acts of the 20th century.
Likewise, Herbie Hancock, at the age of 84, has made an unforgettable impact on the annals of music. This young genius who started as a piano virtuoso enjoyed a spectacular solo career playing to packed arenas worldwide. His collaboration with jazz icon Miles Davis also stands out, along with being the first African American composer to receive an Academy Award for Best Original Score. Round Midnight .
The renowned Canadian classical musician Barbara Hannigan, who is 53 years old, has dedicated over three decades of her career as a soprano vocalist to performing more than 90 pieces composed specifically for their premiere. At the age of 40, she made her debut as a conductor at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, where she earned recognition for her inventive symphonic presentations. In 2018, Hannigan was awarded a Grammy for her album titled 'Crazy Girl Crazy'.
Post a Comment