Elvis presents Cecilia Bartoli with award for artist of the year
PA News, 2001-10-20
- Anthony Barnes

 

OPERA STAR NAMED ARTIST OF THE YEAR

200250 OCT 10
Anthony Barnes, Arts Editor, PA News

Cecilia Bartoli - one of the world's most popular opera stars - has been named artist of the year at the classical music "Oscars".

The Italian mezzo-soprano, who made her Royal Opera House debut this week, was honoured at the Gramophone Magazine Awards at London's Barbican last night.

The event - the 25th annual awards - recognises the finest recordings in a range of categories from orchestral and opera to choral and baroque instrumental.

Bartoli was presented with her award by Elvis Costello, a long-time fan who chose her for one of his Desert Island Discs.

Spanish opera star Victoria de los Angeles landed the lifetime achievement prize, while the London Symphony Orchestra's recording of Vaughan Williams's A London Symphony was named record of the year.

The event was hosted by actor and author Simon Callow.

Over the years the most famous in the classical music world have received awards at the ceremony, including Sir Georg Solti, Dame Kiri te Kanawa and Angela Gheorghiu.

Gramophone magazine critics listened to dozens of CDs over the past four months to decide the winners.