Lebanon Soprano Voted ‘English Idol’

By Roger Schlueter, Belleville News-Democrat, Ill.

May 23–Christine Brewer, of Lebanon, has become the English Idol among classical music fans.

Earlier this month, the world-renowned soprano was honored with the British Broadcasting Corp. Listeners’ Award given by the Royal Philharmonic Society.

In London to do two recordings, Brewer was on hand to accept her silver lyre-shaped statue during ceremonies at the Dorchester Hotel in London. Ceremony highlights were broadcast the following night on BBC Radio.

Listeners of BBC Radio 3 voted for the award. They had heard her in a solo recital of Berg, Strauss, Britten and Daugherty from the Wigmore Hall; in Poulenc’s “Stabat Mater” from the Edinburgh Festival; and, most notably, as “an unforgettable” Brunnhilde in the Proms performance of Wagner’s “Gotterdammerung,” according to the Royal Philharmonic Society.

The society called Brewer “a singer with a radiant voice and a wonderfully warm stage personality.” BBC Music Magazine recently named the 1976 McKendree University graduate one of the top 20 sopranos of the recorded era.

This is the sixth year that the station has collaborated with the society to give classical music audiences the opportunity to recognize artists for outstanding performances. Brewer was among musicians, composers, writers, broadcasters and inspirational arts organizations from the United Kingdom and abroad honored in 14 categories for their achievements during 2007.

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