Pop goes the choir to rock with a diva

Published on Monday 27 October 2003 00:00

THEY are used to performing classics from the likes of Rakhmaninov, Haydn and Benjamin Britten, but now members of National Youth Choir of Scotland have become the most envied in the country by striking a deal to perform with one of pop’s loudest and raunchiest divas, Christina Aguilera, The Scotsman can reveal.

The 40-strong outfit gathered at the Cava studios in Glasgow yesterday to record their parts for a special performance with Aguilera at the MTV European Music Awards next month.

The choir, initially thought to be performing on their own, have now been lined up as backing singers for the controversial star, who simulates sex on stage and dresses in bondage gear.

Despite the artist’s reputation, Christopher Bell, the choir’s artistic director, said his singers were excited at the prospect.

"They are completely over the moon," he said. "We were only asked to do this very recently. Once we were given the green light, I had to get 40 of the singers together from the four corners of the land.

"But as the kids got the message, they were completely delighted. Some were hysterical, actually.

"Even after we had got the numbers we needed, I was receiving calls from choir members asking why they hadn’t been contacted, and I had to tell them that we had tried but their mobiles weren’t switched on.

"But we had a great recording session, which just showed how professional they are. We went in at 10am and were out by 12:10pm. The tracks were then taken off down to London."

Mr Bell was unable to divulge which tracks had been recorded or any of the preparations being made for the show, having been asked by MTV to maintain a high level of secrecy.

He said, however, that in the week leading up to the event, the choir would be reconvening at the temporary concert venue, erected at Leith’s Ocean Terminal for the event, to take part in rehearsals.

Mr Bell added that the event would be important in giving the choir a hipper image.

"It’s excellent publicity for us," he said. "We are basically a classical choir, but throughout the year we do all sorts of gigs, taking all types of music. It just shows how versatile and talented the choir is."

An MTV spokeswoman said the choir were recording their parts so that show organisers can experiment with ideas for the big night on 6 November.

She was also unable to reveal which numbers the choir would be joining Christina Aguilera on.

MTV said choosing the choir to perform at the awards is part of the channel’s efforts to involve the local community.

"It’s extremely important for us to reach out and work with the community - this is the first time we have invited people to perform on stage at the event," the spokeswoman said. "But it’s part of an overall effort to bring people in and make them part of the show."

MTV has also invited hundreds of local teenagers to audition for a prime front-of-stage spot on the big night.

The organisers are looking for 500 young music-lovers to join the "pit" audience in the shadow of the stage. The auditions will be held this Wednesday in the Usher Hall and on Saturday in a specially constructed audition space in Princes Street Gardens. All participants must be 18 or over.

There will also be auditions for youngsters aged 16 or older to greet stars such as Kylie Minogue, Dido and Pink, as they walk up the red carpet at the entrance to the awards. But the choir are not the only Scots who could be getting up close with the singer.

Edinburgh kiltmaker Howie Nicholsby is currently in talks to dress Miss Aguilera in one of his ultra-modern designs for the big night. As she will also be hosting the whole evening as well as performing, the exposure for the designer could be huge.

Mr Nicholsby, of Geoffrey (Tailor) Highland Crafts Ltd, is already planning to have various celebrities and backroom staff kitted out in his kilts.

In the past he has made them for film stars Samuel L Jackson and Mel Gibson, as well as pop star Robbie Williams.

He said: "We are certainly trying to dress Aguilera. Hopefully, she will wear our 21st-century kilt, which is really low on the hips and very short - there’s not much material to it.

"But we’ve got so many others, from Chinese silk ones, camouflage, leather, PVC, transparent, pinstripe or tartan mini ones," he added. "We’ve got quite a choice to give her, It’s really her call."

Tickets for the show are now like gold dust, having sold out less than 15 minutes after they went on sale. The televised event is expected to be watched by an audience of one billion.