Soprano Angela Gheorghiu won Female Artist of the Year for her recent recording of the Puccini classic opera ‘Madama Butterfly’, EMI Classics exclusive artist Thomas Adès was awarded Composer of the Year for his recent opera ‘The Tempest’, and conductor Antonio Pappano, who is Music Director of The Royal Opera House in London, won the Critics’ Award for his recording of Verdi’s ‘Messa da Requiem’. Soprano Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, with whom EMI has a long association, was presented with the Lifetime Achievement in Music Award. Our congratulations to them all!

Here’s a reminder of the winning ‘Madama Butterfly’ recording with Angela Gheorghiu. Angela is currently in the studio recording her next EMI Classics album, a collection of popular opera arias:

EMI Classics exclusive artist Antonio Pappano picked up two nominations – Male Artist of the Year and the Critics’ Award (which he won previously in 2006), star soprano Angela Gheorghiu is up for Female Artist of the Year, while Thomas Adès is nominated for Composer of the Year.

The nomination event featured a live performance by Virgin Classics quartet Quatuor Ebène, showcasing their arrangement of the soundtrack to ‘Pulp Fiction’ from their upcoming album ‘Fiction’ which is out in October.