Take note – young and old masters fight it out at Classical Brit awards

Published on Monday 20 April 2009 22:08

THE young Venezuelan conductor Gustavo Dudamel, a prodigious talent fostered by a revolutionary music teaching system now being trialed with Scottish children, topped the list of nominees for Britain's leading classical music awards yesterday.

Dudamel, who released his debut album, Fiesta, with the Simn Bolvar Youth Orchestra of Venezuela, vies with veteran conductor Sir Charles Mackerras for male artist of the year in this year's Classical Brit Awards.

Sir Charles is well known in Scotland and beyond for his long-time association with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra.

The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, meanwhile, were nominated for classical album of the year for Spirit of the Glen – Journey, recorded while they were on operations in Basra.

It is their second nomination, giving them another chance to become the first military band to win a Classical Brit.

Dudamel conducted the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra at the Edinburgh International Festival in 2008 to mixed reviews. He is best known in Britain for his work with the Simn Bolvar Youth Orchestra, leading their UK residency and winning rave reviews for a concert at London's Royal Festival Hall last week.

The orchestra is made up of musicians produced by the South American country's "El Sistema" programme, which aims to help youngsters from difficult backgrounds escape poverty through music.

A version of El Sistema, The System, is being tried with youngsters on the Raploch Estate, Stirling. Dudamel, 27, who trained through El Sistema, says it will "work easily" in Scotland.

Sir Charles was nominated for his recordings of Mozart's symphonies 38 to 41, recorded by the Scottish Chamber Orchestra on the Linn Records label. Last year's winner, Sir Colin Davis, is also in the running.

The American film score composer James Howard Newton was shortlisted twice in the soundtrack of the year category – for futuristic Will Smith thriller I Am Legend and Batman movie The Dark Knight.

Ten works were nominated in the album of the year category, including Jonathan Ansell, who first hit the headlines singing in operatic boy band G4 on X-Factor, soprano Katherine Jenkins and Mike Oldfield, shortlisted for Music of the Spheres.

Trumpeter Alison Balsom, who won best young performer Brit in 2006, is nominated for female artist of the year alongside opera singers Anna Netrebko and Danielle De Niese.

The nominations were announced at a launch event at London's Mayfair Hotel.

The winners will be revealed at a ceremony at London's Royal Albert Hall on 14 May.