Conductor Riccardo Muti Awarded $130,000 Japanese Arts Prize

The Japan Arts Association has announced the recipients of the annual 'Praemium Imperiale' Awards – including Italian conductor Riccardo Muti

The Japan Arts Association has today announced the recipients of the annual Praemium Imperiale Awards – including Italian conductor Riccardo Muti. 

Awarded in fields of achievement not represented by the Noble Prizes, including painting, sculpture, architecture, music, theatre and film, Maestro Muti will receive 15 Million JPY (US $130,000).

This year’s other category winners include painter Pierre Alechinsky, sculptor Fujiko Nakaya, architect Christian de Portzamparc and actress Catherine Deneuve. 

The awards will be presented by Prince Hitachi, honorary patron of the Japan Arts Association at an official ceremony in Japan, in October.

Launched in 1988, prior Praemium Imperiale award recipients include Leonard Bernstein, Mstislav Rostropovich, Martha Argerich, Daniel Barenboim and Gidon Kremer.

PHOTO CREDIT: TODD ROSENBERG - COURTESY OF RMMUSIC