The evening climaxed with a show-stopping world-exclusive debut duet from the world’s most famous tenor, Andrea Bocelli and the world’s greatest soprano Anna Netrebko.
The event, to be broadcast on ITV1 on 15 May at 10:35pm, celebrated the diversity of the classical music genre, bringing together major operatic stars and classical musicians with the performers that are set to dominate the classical charts in the future.
Myleene Klass hosted this most glittering event in the classical music calendar with seven awards honouring achievements over the past 12 months.
One of the most hotly contested awards of the evening, the NS&I Album of the Year, which was sensationally won by Paul McCartney in 2007, was awarded to the eponymous debut album by vocal quartet Blake: formed just 12 months ago. This is only the second time in the history of the Classical BRIT Awards that the NS&I Album of the year has been won by a debut album; the last time was Russell Watson in 2001 for ‘The Voice’. Blake, who formed via Facebook in Summer 2007 and went on to hit the Number 1 spot of the classical album chart and made the top 20 of the pop charts, join a very exclusive list of artists who have previously won the award and are now the biggest selling artists of the genre. The only previous winners are Andrea Bocelli, Russell Watson, Bryn Terfel, Katherine Jenkins and Paul McCartney. The NS&I Album of the Year is voted for by Classic FM listeners and readers of Classic FM magazine and is compiled from a list of the Top 10 selling classical albums of the past year.
For the second year in a row Anna Netrebko wins a Classical BRIT Award. In 2007 she scooped the Singer of the Year award, whilst this year she was presented the award for Female Artist of the Year by Annie Lennox. Anna Netrebko has earned her reputation as the “greatest living soprano”.
Making it third time lucky, Scottish Violinist Nichola Benedetti finally picked up the Young British Classical Performer or Group Award after being nominated for the third time in the same category. In total the 21-year-old violinist has received five Classical BRIT award nominations, but until today had not taken home a trophy. Classic FM DJ Lawrence Llewelyn Bowen presented the award to Nicola.
Sir Colin Davis, President of the London Symphony Orchestra and one of the UK’s greatest ever musicians has scooped the Classical BRIT award for Male Artist of the Year beating a host of younger musicians. The 80 year old maestro was particularly praised for his recordings for the LSO’s own recording label, LSO Live. The other two nominees in this category were Rolando Villazon and Alfie Boe, whose combined ages do not equal Sir Colin’s years as a conductor.
Other winners on the night were acclaimed cellist Steven Isserlis who was presented with the Critics’ Choice award by Brian Blessed and the Soundtrack of the Year award was won byJames Newton Howard for ‘Blood Diamond’.
Source: Classical Brits
