The Classical Brits. The Guardian Front page Story index Sounding off The Classical Brits. Naked divas, movie tie-ins, spurious awards.
Silversmiths are commissioned, a hall is hired, press releases go out.
No one else would think of celebrating such people. There's a solemn pretence that merit is being rewarded, but really it's just an orgy of unearned self-congratulation. On Saturday at the Royal Albert Hall, the British Phonographic Industry will present the first Classical Brit Awards. The gelled, egregious Kennedy will fiddle, Charlotte Church will weakly warble, Lesley Garrett will effervesce as usual like a shaken bottle of Babycham. In addition, a performance is promised by 'highly acclaimed new soprano Filippa Giordano'.