Icelandic singer Bjork, Italian composer Morricone awarded Swedish music prize

Bjork, Morricone accept 2010 Polar Music Prize

STOCKHOLM — Italian composer Ennio Morricone and Icelandic singer Bjork have received the 2010 Polar Music Prize from Sweden’s King Carl XVI Gustaf.

The musicians accepted their awards at a glitzy ceremony in Stockholm on Monday. Each award is worth 1 million kronor ($136,000).

Bjork said she was honored to receive the prize and that it “tickled” her vanity to be mentioned together with previous laureates such as rock band Pink Floyd and singer Joni Mitchell.

The Polar Music Prize is typically shared each year by a pop artist and a classical musician. It was founded by the manager of Sweden’s legendary pop group ABBA, Stig Anderson, in 1989.