aaamusic | On 12, May 2011

Antonio Pappano, Royal Opera House Music Director Triumphs at the Classic BRIT Award 2011

VIOLIN VIRTUOSOS VICTORIOUS
André Rieu, Tasmin Little and Vilde Frang win their first-ever Classic BRIT Awards

TRIO OF FEMALE INSTRUMENTALISTS SCOOP AWARDS
Third Classic BRIT Award for Alison Balsom

John Barry honoured posthumously with
Outstanding Contribution to Music

Il Divo named Artist of the Decade

London, Thursday 12 May 2011: This evening, The BPI, the UK’s recorded music association, celebrated the achievements over the past twelve months of classical music excellence from both British and international classical musicians, composers and conductors at the twelfth annual Classic BRIT Awards.

Winner of the Critics’ Award, chosen by a panel of renowned classical critics and classical experts, was British violinist Tasmin Little for her critically acclaimed album ‘Elgar: Violin Concerto’ released by Chandos. Tasmin Little shot to prominence in 2008 with her ground-breaking project ‘The Naked Violin’ which boldly embraced the internet and offered up a free downloadable recital of works for solo violin. Documented by the South Bank show, the project was hailed as ‘revolutionary’ and ‘inspiring’.

Norwegian violinist Vilde Frang was presented with the Classic BRIT Newcomer Award in association with MasterCard, as chosen by a panel of classical critics and industry representatives. At 24 years-old, Vilde Frang, who debuted with the Oslo Philharmonic aged twelve, has established a reputation as one of the most promising young soloists to emerge in recent years. Critics throughout the world greeted this debut recording, featuring violin concertos by Sibelius and Prokofiev, with huge acclaim. Anne-Sophie Mutter who performed at the event tonight mentored Vilde Frang.

The Classic FM Album of the Year, the only award voted for by the public and selected from the ten biggest selling classical albums of the past twelve months, fittingly went to André Rieu & Johann Strauss Orchestra with the phenomenal platinum awarded Decca released album ‘Moonlight Serenade’. Over the past two years André Rieu, the Dutch violinist and conductor, having sold over 30million albums globally and created an international revival in waltz music with his spellbinding musical extravaganzas, has become the biggest breakthrough act in the UK of the year 2010.

Trumpeter Alison Balsom has won her third Classic BRIT award and her second as Female Artist of the Year in association with PPL. Signed exclusively to EMI Classics, Alison Balsom’s career has gone from strength to strength, mirroring her success at the Classic BRIT awards which started in 2006 when she won a Classic BRIT for Young British Classical Performer. Tonight’s award was presented for her latest release which included her own arrangements of Italian Baroque Concertos, originally written for oboe and violin.

Antonio Pappano the British conductor and music director of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden was named Male Artist of the Year. Accompanied by Chief Executive of the Royal Opera House Tony Hall, who was there on the night to applaud the success of their music director, Antonio Pappano was presented with the award for two albums released within the space of six months, ‘Verismo Arias’ via Decca Universal and the EMI Classics album ‘Rossini: Stabat Mater’. Antonio Pappano is the youngest conductor ever to have been invited to the position of Music Director of the Royal Opera House and has recently conducted the complete Ring cycle, and the world premiere of Sir Harrison Birtwistle’s The Minotaur, and new productions of Tristan & Isolde, Lulu and Anna Nicole. Antonio Pappano previously received the Critics’ Award at the Classic BRIT Awards in 2010.

Arvo Pärt, the Estonian composer who celebrated his 75th Birthday last year, was presented with the Classic BRIT award for Composer of the Year. His first Classic BRIT award win since winning the Contemporary Music Award in 2003, the award recognises Arvo Pärt’s recent recording of ‘Symphony No. 4’ performed by the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir and The Los Angeles Philharmonic, conducted by Essa-Pekka Salonen. The composition was created almost 40 years after his 1971 ‘Symphony No. 3’, this new piece was premiered in the UK at the Royal Albert Hall on 20 August 2010.

The incomparable Il Divo was the first-ever recipient of the special recognition ‘Artist of the Decade’ award and performed the world premiere of a song from their forthcoming studio album, which will be released in November this year. The award recognises the massive impact that Il Divo have made worldwide on the ever-changing public face of classical music.

The spectacular rise and rise of Il Divo has been incredible, with the band bringing an entirely new sound to the worlds of popular and classical music. Il Divo are the most successful international musical break-out story of this millenium, selling more than 25 million albums.

As previously announced John Barry, the late film score composer, was honoured posthumously with the Outstanding Contribution to Music award. In a career spanning almost 50 years John Barry scored more than 125 films including the Academy Award winning scores for ‘Born Free’, ‘The Lion in Winter’, ‘Out of Africa’, ‘Dances with Wolves’ and ‘Somewhere in Time’. Publicly the name John Barry is most recognised for his collaborations with friend and English lyricist Don Black and his compositions for the James Bond film series, including ‘Diamonds Are Forever’, ‘Goldfinger’, ‘Moonraker’, ‘From Russia With Love’, ‘Dr. No’ and ‘On Her Majesty’s Secret Service’ to name just a few. In 1999, a new John Barry studio album, ‘The Beyondness Of Things’, took the number one spot on the Official UK Classical Chart. John Barry died aged 77 on 30 January 2011. The award was presented by star of Born Free Virginia McKenna and collected by Don Black.

Hosted by Myleene Klass, the Royal Albert Hall was the setting for stunning performances on the night from trumpeter Alison Balsom, German violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter, Eric Whitacre and The Eric Whitacre Singers, tenor Alfie Boe with a performance with the cast of Les Misérables, Katherine Jenkins, the Fanfare Trumpeters of the Central Band of the RAF and ‘Artist of the Decade’ recipients Il Divo, making their Classic BRIT Award debut.

The evening’s grand finale was a celebration of some of John Barry’s greatest scores, performed by The London Chamber Orchestra with contributions from some of the UK’s most celebrated classical performers. Dame Shirley Bassey took to the stage for a debut Classic BRIT Awards appearance with a show-stopping performance of ‘Goldfinger’.

The event was attended by HRH The Duchess of Cornwall.

Established in 2000 to honour and recognise all forms of classical music from contemporary to crossover, opera to soundtracks, traditional to theatre, the Classic BRIT Awards 2011 will celebrate British successes both nationally and internationally. Forming a two-hour musical spectacular, this gala night will feature some of the greatest British talent and music, plus global stars on the same stage for one magnificent night.

The Classic BRIT awards 2011 will be broadcast on ITV1 on 29 May at 10:00pm.