Spanish tenor Placido Domingo, left, receives the Birgit Nilsson Prize from Swedish King Carl Gustaf during a festive award ceremony held at the Royal Swedish Opera in Stockholm, Tuesday Oct. 13, 2009. Spanish tenor Placido Domingo on Tuesday received the first ever $1 million dollar Birgit Nilsson award at a formal award ceremony in Stockholm. Domingo, who won the prize for his "unrivaled" contributions to the world of opera, accepted the award from King Carl XVI Gustaf at the Royal Swedish Opera. Late Swedish soprano Birgit Nilsson chose Domingo as the inaugural winner of the prize nearly a decade ago, demanding the name would be kept secret until after her death. She died at age 87 on Dec. 25, 2005. AP Photo logo AP Photo 28 months ago

Spanish tenor Placido Domingo, left, receives the Birgit Nilsson Prize from Swedish King Carl Gustaf during a festive award ceremony held at the Royal Swedish Opera in Stockholm, Tuesday Oct. 13, 2009. Spanish tenor Placido Domingo on Tuesday received the first ever $1 million dollar Birgit Nilsson award at a formal award ceremony in Stockholm. Domingo, who won the prize for his "unrivaled" contributions to the world of opera, accepted the award from King Carl XVI Gustaf at the Royal Swedish Opera. Late Swedish soprano Birgit Nilsson chose Domingo as the inaugural winner of the prize nearly a decade ago, demanding the name would be kept secret until after her death. She died at age 87 on Dec. 25, 2005.

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