TORSTEN BLACKWOOD / AFP | his file photo taken on April 25, 2011 shows legendary American singer, songwriter, poet, artist and actor, Bob Dylan at the 22nd annual Bluesfest music festival near Byron Bay, Australia

Months after the official Swedish Academy banquet and a world away from the media storm the award has generated, Bob Dylan finally accepted his Nobel Literature diploma and medal in a private ceremony on Saturday.

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The Swedish Academy that hands out the Nobels said on Wednesday the media-shy singer-songwriter received the prize in a "small and intimate setting" which he requested while in Stockholm on a two-concert tour.

Klas Ostergren, a member of the Swedish Academy, said the 75-year-old American singer-songwriter received the award on Saturday afternoon at a hotel next to where Dylan was performing later that night.

Ostergren told The Associated Press that just academy members and Dylan's team attended.

Spirits high and champagne

Sara Danius, the Nobel academy’s permanent secretary, said in a blog post: “Spirits were high. Champagne was had.”

During his show hours later, Dylan made no reference to the Nobel award, simply performing a set blending old classics with tunes from his more recent albums.

The award divided opinion when it was announced, drawing more mixed publicity when Dylan first stayed silent about it for weeks and then declined to attend December's annual Nobel banquet.

I totally get the Nobel committee. Reading books is hard. — Gary Shteyngart (@Shteyngart) October 13, 2016

But in order to receive the award worth 8 million kronor ($894,800), Dylan must give a lecture within six months from Dec. 10. He has said he will not give his Nobel lecture this weekend but a recorded version of it will be sent later.

Taped Nobel lectures have been occasionally presented, most recently in 2013 by Canadian Nobel literature laureate Alice Munro.

"I think he has said it all already as you heard in the acceptance speech. And you know, Dylan didn't apply for the Nobel prize. People seem to forget that. It wasn't a competition, he didn't ask for it, he was bestowed it. It's not for the giver of a gift to expect something in return," said Shmuel Burger, a 61-year-old physician and die-hard Dylan fan who traveled from Israel for the concert.