News
The Duchess attends the Classical Brit Awards
13th May 2009
The Duchess of Cornwall attended the Classical Brit Awards this evening and presented a lifetime achievement to famous tenor José Carreras.
Her Royal Highness is a keen music lover and Patron of the London Chamber Orchestra and the New Queen’s Hall Orchestra.
During the evening, which was hosted by Myleene Klass, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa and Placido Domingo joined The Duchess of Cornwall on stage to present José Carreras with a Lifetime Achievement in music award to a standing ovation.
Paying tribute to his friend, Domingo spoke of his "great beauty of voice". He told the audience of thousands that the UK public was very faithful and devoted.
Upon receiving the award José Carreras said: "Let me tell you that I see myself as a very fortunate man." He said that expressing himself through his voice was "something I think I was born for".
During the event, The Duchess met some of the performers and award nominees in a short private reception.
She chatted to the Priests, a group of Catholic fathers, whom she had met on a recent visit to Northern Ireland.
Father David Delargy said after chatting to The Duchess: "It was a wonderful experience performing at the Royal Albert Hall for the first time.
"We feel this is just another exciting moment on our journey. We only signed our contract with Sony last April and released our album in November so it's just a thrill to be here."
Trumpeter Alison Balsom became the first Briton in the history of the awards to win female artist of the year, fighting off competition from opera stars Anna Netrebko and Danielle de Niese.
Balsom won the best young performer Brit in 2006.
Oscar-winning movie The Dark Knight was named soundtrack of the year for composers James Newton Howard and Hans Zimmer.
Venezuelan conductor Gustavo Dudamel, who led the Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra at sell-out UK concerts in April, garnering rave reviews, was named male artist of the year.
The category had also included established conductors Sir Colin Davis and Sir Charles Mackerras.
Sir Charles triumphed in the critics' award for Mozart Symphonies nos 38-41, performed by the Scottish Chamber Orchestra.
Violinist Alina Ibragimova won the young British classical performer gong.
Composer of the year was awarded to Howard Goodall for Eternal Light – A Requiem, his first award following his debut nomination.
Britain's Got Talent star Faryl Smith opened the show with River Of Light.
At the age of 13, she became the youngest artist yet to perform solo at the awards ceremony.
Domingo and Jenkins joined forces to perform A Mother's Wonderment, on a night which also saw performances from Balsom and the Priests.
Chinese piano maestro Lang Lang was joined by jazz legend Herbie Hancock to play Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue, with two grand pianos taking centre stage.
German tenor Jonas Kaufmann also performed, before Jenkins returned for a solo performance of Rossini's Una Voce Poca Fa.
The awards, chosen by a mix of the public and industry experts, will be broadcast on ITV1.