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Title:
The
Classical Brit Awards, 2000
Date of Awards: 6th
May 2000
Date
of transmission:
Sunday, 21st
May, 2000
Channel:
ITV
Time
of programme start:
22.00.
Charlotte's
role in programme:
Guest Performer and Award Winner.
The
program opened with a long shot of the Brit Awards stage; a
truly magnificent set. The show started with a bang –
literally – with Vanessa Mae on violin, who gave a
wonderful rendition of Laureate. The first part ended with a
triple explosion accompanied by three plumes of white smoke.
At the finale, another billowing cloud arose after yet
another loud bang. Vanessa – who is much admired by
Charlotte – wore a shimmering green waistcoat style top
matched with navy blue, loose fitting trousers. Stunning
performance, stunning performer in stunning costume. What a
way to start the night.
Amidst
great applause, Sir Trevor McDonald was introduced as host
for the evening’s ceremony and entered from the left,
walking swiftly to his allotted place at centre stage.
The
applause died away and Sir Trevor started his introduction.
“Good
evening, from London’s Royal Albert hall, and welcome to
the Classical Brit Awards, 2000 – The first ever. Tonight
we’ll be honouring the very best in popular classical
music, celebrating great artists and wonderful achievements
and enjoying some of the brilliant performances from top
stars in the classical world. And we’ve just had a
stunning example – I think you’d agree – from Vanessa
Mae and Laureate.”
“The
number of people who listen to, and enjoy, classical music
in Britain has grown massively over the last few years and
classical CD’s now account for over 12 million of all the
records sold in this country every year. Add to that, the
millions who tune in to classical radio stations and the
hundreds of thousands who attend concerts every year and you
begin to get a sense that classical music now plays a
significant part in the cultural life of our country.
Recognising the best of that is what tonight is all about.
We’ll be presenting these (here he held up a gold
statuette), Classical Brit Awards, which, like their Rock
and Pop equivalents, are intended to mark outstanding work
in their musical fields.
So
let’s move straight on to our first category. And to
present the award for Best Young Performer is an actress,
who is just as much at home on British television, as she is
in Hollywood. She starred in Black Adder and Absolutely
Fabulous and has appeared in blockbusters like Sleepy
Hollow, The Crying Game and Damage.
Will
you please welcome Miranda Richards?
The
first award of the evening, for 'Best Young Classical
Performer', went to Daniel Harding.
Then
came the moment I had been waiting for – Charlotte Church
was introduced and stepped up to the microphone to sing –
not what we had been given to expect – but an equally well
loved piece… “Guide me, Oh Thou great Redeemer.” She
wore yet another of her beautifully chosen outfits – and
there is no other word to describe it, apart from sizzling!
A scintillating gold tessellated top, coupled with (what
appeared to be) bright red culottes with a wrap around skirt
in the same material and colour. It suited her bright smile
and dainty figure and was simply dazzling! Accompanied by a
full 50 strong Welsh male voice choir, she nearly brought
the house down as she took her final bows and walked
swiftly, but serenely, off-stage.
Here
I am going to add a few screen-shots of her performance
taken on my "back-up" hand-held camcorder. I
apologise if you were expecting more – but I am not
feeling at all well tonight and have the entire show on VHS,
ready for more and better shots later. I need to lug the
large and heavy VCR upstairs and hook it up to the PC to
give you the very best pictures possible. This will take
some time and I hope to present you with the complete
picture (in both ways), by tomorrow evening (God willing and
health permitting).
I
do not believe anyone watching in the UK will have been
disappointed – especially with the reaction to her
personal presentation! The coverage of this part you have
just got to come back and read about! Wonderful definitely,
naive perhaps, but truly pure Charlotte! This girl's got the
lot - charm, poise and self-confidence, but above all, the
glorious innocence of the young and un-spoilt.
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