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Press releaseTHE CLASSICAL BRIT AWARDS 2007 NOMINEES ANNOUNCED03 April 2007A HAT-TRICK FOR NICOLA BENEDETTI THE BPI REVEALS THE NOMINATIONS FOR FERN BRITTON CONFIRMED AS HOST The nominations for the eighth annual Classical BRIT Awards with NS&I were unveiled today in London. As nominees and performers gathered at the Royal Garden Hotel, Kensington, co-chairman of The Classical BRIT Awards Committee Peter Jamieson hosted an evening that included performances from a trio of British performers; soprano Natasha Marsh, tenor Alfie Boe and violinist Ruth Palmer. The winners of the eight categories will be announced on 3 May at the Royal Albert Hall and as announced today will be hosted for the first time by one of the nation’s favourite TV presenters Fern Britton. Running away with the nominations this year is 19-year-old Scottish violinist Nicola Benedetti, receiving an impressive three nominations for Instrumentalist of the Year, NS&I Album of the Year and Young British Classical Performer. Nominated for two awards each are Mexican lyric tenor Rolando Villazon, who stole the show in 2006, in the categories Singer of the Year and the Critics’ Award; bass baritone Bryn Terfel, for NS&I Album of the Year and the Critics’ Award, and vocal ensemble The Sixteen/Harry Christophers, with Classical Recording of the Year and NS&I Album of the Year. Produced by the BPI, representing UK record companies, The Classical BRIT Awards 2007 with NS&I is a unique event that features performances from the best talent within the classical world, and embraces new talent and technical advancements that continue to bring classical music to a wider audience. Introduced for the first time last year, the Singer of the Year recognises pure vocal talent whether male or female. Voted for by the Academy, Rolando Villazon is joined in the nominations by Russian soprano Anna Netrebko and British baritone Simon Keenlyside. Also returning for 2007 is Instrumentalist of the Year. This category not only includes last year’s winner, pianist Leif Ove Andsnes, and Nicola Benedetti but also British trumpeter Alison Balsom. Alison performed at the Classical BRIT Awards in 2006 and was named Young British Classical Performer, a fact that saw her sales increase 339% and caused Radio 2 to start playing her work. Classic FM listeners and Classic FM magazine readers choose the NS&I Album of the Year. Voting begins on 10 April and visitors to www.classicfm.com will be able to vote for one of the 10 nominated artists. Each voter will have the opportunity to win one of five pairs of tickets to the Classical BRIT Awards courtesy of NS&I by using the link provided. Joining Bryn Terfel, Nicola Benedetti and The Sixteen/Harry Christophers is, winner for the past two years, Katherine Jenkins plus Alfie Boe, All Angels, Libera, Fron Male Voice Choir and, in a switch from pop to classical, two legendary artists make an appearance: Sting for Songs From The Labyrinth and Paul McCartney’s Ecce Cor Meum performed by Academy of St Martin-in-the-Fields/Greenaway. Completing The Sixteen/Harry Christophers’ double nomination, for the album Ikon, is their appearance in the Classical Recording of the Year category. They are joined by Berlin Philharmonic/Sir Simon Rattle for Holst/The Planets and LSO/Sir Colin Davis for Sibelius/Kullervo. This year’s Contemporary Composer of the Year award contains albums composed by John Adams, Karl Jenkins and Sir Peter Maxwell-Davies. The Soundtrack Composer of the Year has been expanded for 2007 to include original scores for TV as well as musical theatre and film. The three nominees this year are John Williams for Steven Spielberg’s Munich, George Fenton’s soundtrack to BBCTV’s Planet Earth series and James Newton Howard’s soundtrack to The Village for the film by M Night Shyamalan. Chosen by a panel of critics from the national media, the Critics’ Award highlights performances and notable achievements this year by Bryn Terfel with his album Tutto Mozart and Rolando Villazon for Opera Recital, making their second nomination each this year, and the Freiberg Baroque Orchestra/RIAS Kammerchoir/Rene Jacobs with Mozart/La Clemenza di Tito. A panel of reviewers from Gramophone Magazine comes together once a year to decide the nominations for Young British Classical Performer that in 2007 includes Nicola Benedetti for the second year running (completing her triple nomination for this year) as well as Scottish tenor Nicky Spence and violinist Ruth Palmer. As previously announced, Dr Vernon Handley CBE will be honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award. Finally, it was also revealed today that the young choral quartet All Angels have been added to the line-up for the Classical BRIT Awards 2007 with NS&I alongside conductor Dr Vernon Handley CBE, cellist Natalie Clein, Chinese pianist Lang Lang, American violinist Joshua Bell, Peruvian tenor Juan Diego Flórez, mezzo soprano Katherine Jenkins, the Fron Male Voice Choir and the London Chamber Orchestra under the baton of Christopher Warren-Green. The evening will include a special celebration of British classical music and the 150th Anniversary of the birth of Edward Elgar. The Classical BRIT Awards were established in 2000 to recognise the outstanding achievements of classical musicians and the growth of classical music sales in the UK. The awards have proved their vital importance to the UK music industry with the huge impact the event has on record sales of those artists performing, winning and nominated. Public tickets for The Classical BRIT Awards 2007 with NS&I are on sale from Royal Albert Hall Box Office on 020 7589 8212. ITV1 will broadcast the show on Sunday 6 May. ENDS For further information, please contact: T: 020 7439 7222 Notes to editors: The BRIT Trust The BRIT in the title of The Classical BRIT Awards originates from the British Record Industry Trust. The Classical BRIT Awards is a charity event and donates its proceeds to the BRIT Trust each year. The BRIT Awards is the only UK show where all the proceeds are donated to charity. Millions have been raised over the years for its beneficiaries: The BRIT School for Performing Arts and Technology and Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy. Over 7,000 young people have been given free education and the opportunity to enter the school since its opening in 1991 and more than 10,000 children and adults have been helped by the phenomenal music therapy work carried out by Nordoff-Robbins. The BPI The BPI represents the British recorded music industry. It's a trade organisation funded by its members - which include the UK's four major record labels and more than hour hundred independent music companies, comprising thousands of labels and accounting for more than 90% of all the recorded music sold in the UK. Among its activities are campaigning against music piracy, compiling the industry’s official research and statistics, lobbying the media and Government and of course organising The BRIT Awards and The Classical BRIT Awards with NS&I.
NS&I is one of the largest savings organisations in the UK, offering a range of savings and investments products, including Premium Bonds, Savings Certificates, Direct ISA and Children's Bonus Bonds to 27 million customers. All products offer 100% capital security, because they are backed by HM Treasury. NS&I has sponsored the Classic FM Morning Show since February 2002, and The Classical BRIT Awards since 2004.
Media team The numbers below are for media use only. Customers wishing to contact NS&I can find details here.
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