Classical Brits 2006

[Richard]

Hello everybody!

There is an article in the Evening Standard's "This is London", which focuses on Katherine and her award.

www.thisislondon.co.uk/music/articles/22523575?source=PA

Katherine's a classic Monroe
By This is London
5 May 2006

Welsh soprano Katherine Jenkins proved diamonds are a girl's best friend at the Classical Brit Awards tonight with a homage to Marilyn Monroe.

The singer scooped the Album of the Year award for the second year running.

And she brought a touch of Hollywood glamour in a £75,000 fuschia pink dress, a copy of one Marilyn wore in the 1953 film How To Marry A Millionaire.

The jewel-encrusted Kruszyncka gown was set off by £250,000 worth of Bulgari diamonds.

"Marilyn Monroe is my inspiration. I love that old-fashioned glamour and womanly shape," Jenkins said.

The 25-year-old won the Album of the Year award for her latest recording Living A Dream, which has sold 450,000 copies so far.

She beat competition from the likes of Bryn Terfel, violinist Nicola Benedetti and ex-Emmerdale actress Amy Nuttall.

Her win makes her the first female artist to win two consecutive Classical Brits.

Last year she also scooped the best album award for her debut, Premiere.

The former teacher is now the UK's best-selling classical artist of all time.

The awards ceremony was held at London's Royal Albert Hall and hosted by Michael Parkinson.

Other glamorous stars in attendance included trumpeter Alison Balsom, named Young British Classical Performer of the Year, and young singer Hayley Westenra.

Legendary tenor Placido Domingo was honoured with a Lifetime Achievement award.

Andreas Scholl was named Singer of the Year and Dario Marianelli picked up a prize for his soundtrack to the Keira Knightley film Pride and Prejudice.

The awards will be broadcast on ITV1 on May 7.

Full List of Winners

Contemporary Music Award
James MacMillan (Symphony no 3, Silence)

Singer of the Year
Andreas Scholl - Arias for Senesino

Soundtrack/Musical Theatre Composer Award
Dario Marianelli - Pride and Prejudice

Ensemble/Orchestral Album of the Year
Takacs Quartet - Beethoven: The Late String Quartets

Critics' Award
Royal Opera House Chorus and Orchestra/Domingo/Pappano - Tristan and Isolde

Young British Classical Performer
Alison Balsom

Instrumentalist of the Year
Leif Ove Andsnes - Rachmaninov Piano Concerto 1 & 2

Album of the Year
Katherine Jenkins - Living A Dream

Lifetime Achievement Award
Placido Domingo

---

If you click on the link to the actual article, don't miss the photo-gallery. There is a link at the bottom.

Richard

[Andrew]

Hi Richard,

Many thanks for posting up your article.

I'm not impressed with the idea of Katherine dressing in the replica Marilyn Monroe dress... Katherine probably considers that the "showgirl" image will win her popularity, but the Marilyn Monroe sex symbolism is an over statement in my opinion... Turn it down girl!!!! Ulch....

Regards,

Andrew

[Dave]

richnorri said:

Hello everybody!

There is an article in the Evening Standard's "This is London", which focuses on Katherine and her award.
www.thisislondon.co.uk/music/articles/22523575?source=PA
Katherine's a classic Monroe
By This is London
5 May 2006

I will try not to be too negative as this is a Katherine thread but I don't like press hype, misinformation or errors so, as with any Hayley errors, I will try to correct the Katherine ones too.

She beat competition from the likes of Bryn Terfel, violinist Nicola Benedetti and ex-Emmerdale actress Amy Nuttall.

No mention here of Katherine's main competition, Hayley.

Last year she also scooped the best album award for her debut, Premiere.

No she didn't, it was her second album, Second Nature.

The former teacher is now the UK's best-selling classical artist of all time.

Hmmm.... Katherine is *nowhere near* Russell Watson's UK album sales total. The last I heard, Russell was a classical artist (top of the classical chart with his first and most recent albums) and Manchester was in the UK. If they didn't quite mean what they said, I wonder what they did mean?

Other glamorous stars in attendance included trumpeter Alison Balsom, named Young British Classical Performer of the Year, and young singer Hayley Westenra.

They got something right! And well done to Katherine... in spite of the press!

Cheers, Dave

[Steve H]

classicalbrits.co.uk/says:-

Televised in the UK: ITV 1 on Sunday 7th May, 4.30pm
Repeated: ITV 1, Sunday 14th May, 11pm.

Steve H

[Dave]

Hello everyone,

I took a couple of photos of Katherine accepting her award at the RAH and I've uploaded them to my personal webspace so here they are.

Posh dress!

Cheers,

Dave

[postscript]

Following on Dave, the photographs of Katherine are superb. Had she something in her eye in the second shot?

According to one press report i read, the dress was modelled on one of Marilyn Monroe's in one of her films, not one I was familiar with and cost £75,000 while the jewellery she was wearing (presujmably hired?) was said to be worth £250,000! Or perhaps more accurately, could be bought for that sum. Being modern jewellry with 15.5% VAT imposed I guess selling it you could knock $50,000 off for its actual worth in diamonds and jeweller's art?

Peter

[Richard]

Hello Peter!

Perhaps Katherine had just seen the bill for hiring the dress and the diamonds!

Doing a quick mental calculation, I'd say she looked a million NZ dollars! i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif

Best Wishes,

Richard

[Steve H]

Hi Dave,

Thanks for the pics, that camera of yours sure works well doesn't it, there looks like there was plenty of light on the stage which has given you superb clarity.

Were they taken with the Telephoto or the Standard lens?

Hi Richard,

I think she must have been expecting to win, thats a serious bit of kit she is wearing, but my unbiased opinion is that Hayley looked so much more glamorous in her dress, and she can use it again on stage, whereas I think if Katherine uses hers again we will all recognise it immediately!

Cheers for now

Steve H

[Andrew]

stevehome said:

Hi Dave,

Hayley looked so much more glamorous in her dress, and she can use it again on stage, whereas I think if Katherine uses hers again we will all recognise it immediately!

Cheers for now

Steve H

Hi Steve,

I totally agree with your comments here...

Sometimes "Less is more"... i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif

Regards,

Andrew

[Dave]

postscript said:

Following on Dave, the photographs of Katherine are superb. Had she something in her eye in the second shot?
Peter

Hi Peter,

Katherine was brushing away a tear or two in the second shot, as she is wont to do when she wins things...

Cheers, Dave

[roger]

...And it seems to be contageous. Placido Domongo was clearly afflicted by the same condition when he was presented with his Lifetime Achievement award. Their own emotions being publicly displayed was kinda nice to see, actually.

Roger