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THE
CLASSICAL BRIT AWARDS 2000
The
British Phonographic Industry (The BPI) is proud to announce
the inaugural CLASSICAL BRIT AWARDS. The awards have
been established in recognition of the achievements of
classical musicians and the growth of classical music sales
in the UK and will take place at London's Royal Albert
Hall on Saturday May 6 2000.
SHOW
Six
specially commissioned awards honouring the cream of the
classical music world, will be presented to both established
and up-and-coming artists of the classical genre. The gala
evening will also feature performances from many of the
world's finest musicians. Lisa Anderson, executive producer
of the CLASSICAL BRIT AWARDS confirmed today the
following to perform at the event: world-class tenor ANDREA
BOCELLI, Italian diva CECILIA BARTOLI, violin
virtuoso NIGEL KENNEDY, child prodigy CHARLOTTE
CHURCH and soprano LESLEY GARRETT, all
accompanied by the English Chamber Orchestra conducted by
James Judd. More artists will be announced at a later date.
A sixty-minute TV special of the celebrations will be filmed
by Carlton Productions and transmitted on the ITV Network on
May 21.
VOTING
Voting for
four of the awards will be by an academy of industry
executives, the media, the British Association of Record
Dealers (BARD), members of the Musicians Union, lawyers,
promoters, and orchestra leaders. Another award will be
voted for by the public via a media partner (to be
announced) and there will be a one final special award, the
details of which will be confirmed very soon.
SALES
The sales
of classical music in the UK have been increasing for many
years now with the most recent figures showing over 16.2
million records being sold in one year. This is further
reflected in the increase in specialist magazines, radio
stations and concerts.
BPI
Chairman Rob Dickins says, "Classical music has over
recent years spread its influence to encompass all kinds of
markets and in doing so is reaching a much wider audience.
The strict and somewhat old-fashioned conformities of the
past have been eroded and music is the winner. The Classical
BRITS aims to reflect the widening of the music and the
audience and with the BRITS team behind it makes for a great
television show which will further the development of the
genre.
PRODUCTION
To stage
this debut homage to the world of classical music, the BPI
has formed an innovative team. Their decision to draw a
production crew from the world of large scale rock events
means that this show will present an opportunity to rethink
the way that classical music is filmed and presented. This
will lead to a truly spectacular show both as a live event
and as a television programme. The team includes Lisa
Anderson (executive producer) Annie Crofts (production
manager) both of whom have worked on The BRIT Awards for the
last decade. The show's director will be Janet Fraser Crook,
the producer will be Helen Terry and the executive producer
for Carlton TV Productions is Mark Wells.
TICKETS
Tickets
priced from £15.00 - £80.00 are available from The
Royal Albert Hall Box Office on 0207 589 8212. A limited
number of dinner and show tickets priced £250.00 per
head are available from Ticketmaster on 0870 534 4444. |
