Lorraine Hunt Lieberson nominated for two Classical BRIT Awards

Internationally acclaimed mezzo-soprano, Lorraine Hunt Lieberson, has been nominated for two British Phonographic Industry-sponsored Classical BRIT Awards - Female Artist of the Year and the Critics’ Award. Hunt Lieberson is one of three artists short-listed in each category, and she has been nominated for her recording of Handel Arias on the Avie label. This disc was recorded, edited and mastered by Polyhymnia International.

The Classical BRIT nominations represent the latest in a string of successes for Hunt Lieberson’s Handel SA-CD (AV 0030). Released in June 2004, the recording, available in Hybrid surround SA-CD format, has been praised by the press worldwide as “hypnotising,” “priceless,” and “sumptuous,” among other superlatives. It has secured Top 10 chart positions in the UK and the US and was nominated for a Grammy Award.

The Handel Arias recording was the brainchild of Harry Bicket, who conducts the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment on this SA-CD. During their run of the critically acclaimed Peter Sellars’ production of Theodora at the Glyndebourne Festival in 2003, the musicians made studio recordings of the arias of Hunt Lieberson’s character Irene. The SA-CD was completed with two arias from Serse, including the evergreen Ombra mai fù, and the cantata La Lucrezia.

Avie Records is the London-based independent classical label that was launched in 2002 with a unique business model based on artist-ownership. These are the first Classical BRIT nominations for the label. “After the earlier Grammy nomination we are tremendously excited about this Classical BRIT nomination,” commented Melanne Mueller from Avie Records. “Lorraine is a fantastically gifted performer
and this SA-CD highlights her talent in a spine-tingling fashion. At last we have a
music format which transports performers into peoples’ homes.”

The Classical BRIT Awards will be announced in a gala ceremony at the Royal Albert Hall on 25 May