Classical boyband scoops the big one

The stars of the classical music world gathered for a glittering ceremony at London's Royal Albert Hall for the Classical Brit Awards.

It was billed as the biggest show in the history of the awards and played host to some of the biggest selling artists on the classical scene, including tenor Andrea Bocelli and pianist Josh Groban.

Blake, the ex-choirboys who formed on social networking site Facebook, scooped one of the biggest prizes at the event.

The quartet, made up of 20-somethings, Ollie Baines, Stephen Bowman, Jules Knight and Dom Tighe, are only the second act to win Album of the Year for a debut album in the history of the prize.

In other awards, Scottish violinist Nicola Benedetti was named Young British Classical Performer.

The 21-year-old has picked up five Classical Brit nominations, but this is her first award.

Russian singer Anna Netrebko won Female Artist of the Year and was presented with the award by Annie Lennox.

Netrebko, who has been dubbed the "greatest living soprano", was named Singer of the Year in 2007.

Conductor Sir Colin Davis, president of the London Symphony Orchestra, won Male Artist of the Year, beating a host of younger musicians.

Cellist Steven Isserlis was presented with the Critics' Choice award by actor Brian Blessed and the Soundtrack of the Year award was won by James Newton Howard for Blood Diamond, the thriller starring Leonardo DiCaprio.

ITV chairman Michael Grade presented Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber with a special award for Outstanding Achievement In Music, almost 25 years since the theatre impresario composed his Grammy-winning Requiem Mass.

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