Philip Glass, Cai Guo-Qiang Win $192,600 Japanese Prize

Composer Philip Glass and artist Cai Guo-Qiang won the Praemium Imperiale, an international arts prize patronized by Japan’s ruling dynasty, worth 15 million yen ($192,600).

The other three recipients were Danish architect Henning Larsen, Japanese ballerina Yoko Morishita, and Italian sculptor Cecco Bonanotte, according to an e-mailed release sent today.

Glass -- who wrote “Einstein on the Beach,” and has worked with Ravi Shankar, David Bowie and Brian Eno during his career -- was deemed one of the most influential living composers.

Cai, best known for making art with gunpowder, became the prize’s first Chinese winner. His “Footprints in the Sky” piece for the Beijing Olympics opening ceremony was cited.

Last year’s winners were artists Bill Viola and Anish Kapoor, actress Judi Dench, conductor Seiji Ozawa and architect Ricardo Legorreta. The prizes were inaugurated in 1989.

To contact the writer on the story: Farah Nayeri in London at farahn@bloomberg.net.

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Manuela Hoelterhoff at mhoelterhoff@bloomberg.net.

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Composer Philip Glass

Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg

Composer Philip Glass poses for a portrait after a television interview in New York, U.S., on Tuesday, March 25, 2008.

Composer Philip Glass poses for a portrait after a television interview in New York, U.S., on Tuesday, March 25, 2008. Photographer: Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg