Soprano Renee Fleming and Pink Floyd win Polar Music Prize

May 21, 2008, 16:41 GMT

Roger Waters of Pink Floyd performs during one of the eight Live Earth concerts being held around the world at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA, on 07 July 2007. EPA/JUSTIN LANE

Stockholm - Acclaimed US soprano Renee Fleming and legendary British rock group Pink Floyd were Wednesday named winners of the Polar Music Prize 2008 joining the likes of blues legend BB King, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Led Zeppelin and Miriam Makeba.

The jury cited Fleming for her 'sublime unparalleled voice and unique stylistic versatility,' noting her broad repertoire that ranges 'from Handel to principal parts in newly penned operas.'

Pink Floyd, formed in the mid-1960s and known for hit albums like The Dark Side of The Moon and The Wall, were hailed for their 'monumental contribution over decades to the fusion of art and music in the development of popular culture.'

'Pink Floyd are probably quite unique, the way they combine art and music, it's not just music, its art, the scenography,' jury member Roger Wallis told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa, adding that the jury was 'unanimous' in the selection.

Fleming was 'brilliant on stage,' but unlike many other opera singers was also 'very good in front of an orchestra without the support of the scenography,' said Wallis, chairman of the Swedish Society of Popular Music Composers (SKAP).

King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden was due August 26 to present the awards, each worth 1 million kronor (164,000 dollars), at the Stockholm Concert Hall that is also venue for the annual Nobel Prize award ceremony, said Lennart Wiklund, chairman of the prize board.

Wiklund, a fan of Pink Floyd, said the 'king's support means a great deal' for the prize.

Wallis said it was not known which members of Pink Floyd were due to attend the ceremony but was 'confident' they would come.

On the eve of the announcement, The Royal Swedish Academy of Music left the prize committee but Wiklund said the new organization will continue its efforts and work with new partners.

The Polar Music Prize was created in 1989 by the late Stig 'Stikkan' Andersson, former manager of Swedish super group ABBA.

The 2007 prize was shared by Americans Steve Reich and Sonny Rollins.

Sir Paul McCartney was the first winner in 1992 when he shared the honour with the Baltic states, who had recently gained independence from the Soviet Union.

Former winners include Dizzy Gillespie, Witold Lutoslawski, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Quincy Jones, Mstislav Rostropovitch, Elton John, Joni Mitchell, Pierre Boulez, Ray Charles, Ravi Shankar, Stevie Wonder, Isaac Stern, Burt Bacharach, Robert Moog, Karlheinz Stockhausen and Keith Jarrett.