Classic Brit Awards Pay Tribute To Pavarotti

Luciano Pavarotti has posthumously received the lifetime achievement award at this year's Classic Brits, six years after he was too ill to accept it himself.

His wife Nicoletta Mantovani was at London's Royal Albert Hall to collect the award on his behalf.

She was joined on stage by Jose Carreras who - with Placido Domingo - collaborated with Pavarotti to form The Three Tenors.

Speaking to Sky News, Carreras said: "Pavarotti had the sun in his voice.

"But he also had the sun in his personality, in the way he enjoyed life, and in the way he was with his friends.

"He was an exceptional artist with an exceptional voice, and to work with him was exceptional. We had lots of fun."

Placido Domingo recorded a personal tribute video for the event.

Composer Hans Zimmer, who has written some of the most famous film scores - Gladiator, The Rock, and The Lion King to name but a few - was handed the outstanding contribution to music award and composer of the year.

He also took the stage to perform a medley of his most notable works.

But the night belonged to the younger generation of musical prodigies.

Scottish violinist Nicola Benedetti, 26, was named female artist of the year but missed out on album of the year - the only award of the night decided by public vote.

Andre Rieu's Magic Of The Movies beat Katherine Jenkins, Lang Lang, and Andrea Bocelli to album of the year.

Chinese pianist Lang Lang also failed to win male artist of the year, which went instead to Daniel Barenboim, although the 30-year-old picked up international artist of the year and performed a duet with Benedetti.

Australian saxophonist Amy Dickson was named breakthrough artist of the year

"I didn't even think I'd be nominated," she said. "It's an enormous, enormous honour."