The Nobel Banquet 2012

The 2012 Nobel Laureates

The Nobel Prize in Physics

Professor Serge Haroche
Dr David J. Wineland

The Nobel Prize in Chemistry

Professor Robert J. Lefkowitz
Professor Brian K. Kobilka

The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine

Dr John B. Gurdon
Professor Shinya Yamanaka

The Nobel Prize in Literature

Author Mo Yan

The Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel

Professor Alvin E. Roth
Professor Emeritus Lloyd S. Shapley

Program

The guests of honour enter in procession


His Majesty’s toast is proposed by MD h.c. Marcus Storch,
Chairman of the Board of the Nobel Foundation


A toast to Alfred Nobel’s memory is proposed by
His Majesty the King


Divertissement

I

Aspiration

II

The Pyramid

I

Knitting Peace

Students from the Swedish universities and colleges,
bearing the standards of their student unions, pay homage to the Laureates


Speeches by Laureates


The guests of honour rise from the table and leave in procession


Dancing in the Golden Hall


Artistic Managers

Director and Concept, Cirkus Cirkör Tilde Björfors
Producer, Cirkus Cirkör
Cajsa Lindegren
Floral Designer Gunnar Kaj
Lighting Designer Per Sundin
Sound Designer Lars Wern
Organist Mattias Wager
Trumpeters Olle and Mikael Hermansen
Toastmaster Emma Johansson
Dance Orchestra Casino Royale Orchestra
Ceramic Artist Kina Björklund

The flowers are graciously provided by the Chamber of Commerce
of Imperia – Povince of Imperia – Town of Sanremo


Menu

Omble-chevalier accompagné d’une terrine de chou-fleur,
d’oeufs d’ablette de Kalix et de mayonnaise à l’aneth

Faisan aux chanterelles garni d’une poire pochée,
de légumes d’hiver et d’une purée
de pommes de terre “Almond”, sauce au vin rouge

Trilogie de cerises avec mascarpone
à la pistache et sorbet aux cerises noires

Vins

Champagne Joseph Perrier Cuvée Royale
Brut Blanc de Blancs

Château Valandraud
3 de Valandraud 2009

Jorge Ordoñez & Co
Nº 2 Victoria 2010

Grönstedts VO

Facile Punsch

Eau Minérale Stenkulla Brunn

Stadshusrestauranger en collaboration avec le Chef Andreas Hedlund
ainsi qu’avec Ted Johansson et Conrad Tyrsén, Dessert & Choklad Stockholm

Menu

Marinated Arctic char with cauliflower terrine,
Kalix bleak roe and dill mayonnaise

Pheasant with chanterelle mushrooms,
poached pear, winter vegetables,
almond potato purée and red wine gravy

Trilogy of cherries with pistachio-covered
mascarpone cheese and black cherry sorbet

Wine

Champagne Joseph Perrier Cuvée Royale
Brut Blanc de Blancs

Château Valandraud
3 de Valandraud 2009

Jorge Ordoñez & Co
Nº 2 Victoria 2010

Grönstedts VO

Facile Punsch

Eau Minérale Stenkulla Brunn

Stadshusrestauranger in collaboration with Chef Andreas Hedlund
as well as Ted Johansson and Conrad Tyrsén, Dessert & Choklad Stockholm


Cirkus Cirkör was founded in 1995 with the vision to change the world through
contemporary circus. Knitting Peace is the name of Cirkus Cirkör’s new show,
which opens in Marseille in January 2013. This divertissement consists of acts
from Knitting Peace and is directed by Cirkus Cirkör’s founder Tilde Björfors,
who is also Professor of Circus at the University of Dance and Circus in Stockholm.

Act I – Aspiration

A circus artist strives to make the impossible possible, constantly pushing limits
forward. Is this an endless, lifelong race where no satisfaction can be found? Or is
striving in itself actually what keeps us going and gives us meaning and purpose?

Act II – The Pyramid

Do we need to fulfil our basic needs before we can start reaching for
higher goals, dreams and purposes? Some people set higher goals
as the basis for their existence and make the rest flow from that.

Act III – Knitting Peace

Is it possible to knit peace? Is striving for peace on earth reaching for the impossible?
Can striving in itself change anything? It’s easy to give up, faced with
one’s own smallness and the complexity of things. But one person is
never too small to be part of a world-wide knitting for peace.

Director and Concept – Tilde Björfors

The Knitting Peace ensemble:

Jens Engman – dance acrobatics
Aino Ihanainen – knitting, hand stand
Ilona Jäntti – aerial rope
Matleena Laine – aerial acrobatics, ladder
Alexander Weibel Weibel – multiple slack rope
Samuel “Looptok” Andersson – composer and musician
Featuring: André Farstad – acrobatics on the wall and Maja Eriksson Långbacka – song

The contemporary circus programme at the St. Botvid upper secondary school
Ung Cirkör – Cirkus Cirkör’s youth ensemble
Stäying Alive – Cirkus Cirkör’s ensemble of senior citizens
Fredrik Deijfen and Laban Deijfen Björfors

Circus rigger – Ulf “Poly” Nylin
Producer – Cajsa Lindegren
Costume – Anna Bonnevier
Additional costume – Liv Pettersson and Sabina Nowotny
Make up – Cecilia Lidén, Art of Make up school, in collaboration with Helena Andersson
Video projections – Videoforce
Knittings – Volunteers under the direction of Frida Hjärne
and second grade students from Idunskolan


Translation of the Banquet speech of Author Mo Yan,
Nobel Laureate in Literature

Your Majesties, Your Royal Highnesses, Ladies and Gentlemen,

For me, a farm boy from Gaomi’s Northeast Township in far-away China,
standing here in this world-famous hall after having received the Nobel Prize
in Literature feels like a fairy tale, but of course it is true.

My experiences during the months since the announcement have made me aware
of the enormous impact of the Nobel Prize and the unquestionable respect it
enjoys. I have tried to view what has happened during this period in a cool,
detached way. It has been a golden opportunity for me to learn about the world
and, even more so, an opportunity for me to learn about myself.

I am well aware that there are many writers in the world who would be more
worthy Laureates than I. I am convinced that if they only continue to write, if
they only believe that literature is the ornament of humanity and a God-given
right, “She will give you a garland to grace your head and present you with a
glorious crown.” (Proverbs 4:9)

I am also well aware that literature only has a minimal influence on political
disputes or economic crises in the world, but its significance to human beings is
ancient. When literature exists, perhaps we do not notice how important it is, but
when it does not exist, our lives become coarsened and brutal. For this reason, I
am proud of my profession, but also aware of its importance

I want to take this opportunity to express my admiration for the members of the
Swedish Academy, who stick firmly to their own convictions. I am confident that
you will not let yourselves be affected by anything other than literature.

I also want to express my respect for the translators from various countries who
have translated my work. Without you, there would be no world literature. Your
work is a bridge that helps people to understand and respect each other.

Nor, at this moment, can I forget my family and friends, who have given me their
support and help. Their wisdom and friendship shines through my work.

Finally, I wish to extend special thanks to my older relatives and compatriots at
home in Gaomi, Shandong, China. I was, am and always will be one of you. I also
thank the fertile soil that gave birth to me and nurtured me. It is often said that
a person is shaped by the place where he grows up. I am a storyteller, who has
found nourishment in your humid soil. Everything that I have done, I have done
to thank you!

My sincere thanks to all of you!

Copyright © The Nobel Foundation 2012

To cite this section
MLA style: The Nobel Banquet 2012. NobelPrize.org. Nobel Prize Outreach AB 2024. Tue. 19 Mar 2024. <https://www.nobelprize.org/ceremonies/the-nobel-banquet-2012-2012-2/>

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Illustration