Queen band, jazz pianist Herbie Hancock and soprano Barbara Hannigan received a prestigious Polar Music Prize

International The Polar Music Prize, one of the heavy series of music awards, has been awarded this year to three artists: Queen Rock band, Jazz Pianist Herbie Hancockille and soprano Barbara Hannigan.

Usually the Polar Music Prize has been awarded to one representative of light music and classical music, but in some years there have been three prize winners, as this year. One prize is one million SEKs of Sweden, or about EUR 91,000 in the current course.

The prize amount makes it one of the biggest music awards, which is why it has sometimes been called the Nobel Prize for Music. There are even greater music awards, but the Nobel image is reinforced by the Polar Music Prize home country Sweden.

In the UK The Queen band now has two members, a guitarist Brian May (b. 1947) and drummer Roger Taylor (b. 1949), singer Freddie Mercury After death in 1991 and a bassist John Deaconin After leaving the band a little later.

The Queen is known for its several hits, which were published mainly in the 1970s and 1980s. They belong Bohemian Rhapsody, Don’t Stop Me Now, We Will Rock You and We Are the Champions.

“Queen’s songs are still heard everywhere, and they will appeal to new generations of listeners for another half a century after recording them,” the jury explains the reward of the band.

American pianist Herbie Hancock (b. 1940) started his career in the 1960s Miles Davis in the band and at that time also recorded influential solo discs such as Empyrean Isles (1964) and Maiden Voyage (1965). Cases of the next decade include fusion disk Head Hunters (1973).

“Herbie Hancock is a jazz scientist,” says the Polar Award jury.

Canadian soprano Barbara Hannigan (b. 1971) is especially known as an interpreter of new art music, and in addition to his song career, he has later begun to work as a conductor. He has also visited Finland too.

“It is an unforgettable experience to hear him lead orchestra and sing at the same time,” the Polar Prize jury explains.

Read more: Soprano hatches the conductor

Polar Music Prize shared annually by the Swedish Stig Anderson Music Award Foundation, founded by the ABBA band as a manager Stig Anderson In 1989.