“Classical crossover is about bringing audiences together – not genres,” says Alfie Boe

13 June 2018, 16:51 | Updated: 14 June 2018, 10:17

“Music is music – it’s the audiences that are different.” We spoke to Alfie Boe and Michael Ball before the Classic BRIT Awards at the Royal Albert Hall…

The Classic BRIT Awards are returning for the first time in five years, in a glittering ceremony packed with the biggest stars from the classical music – and classical crossover – world.

As well as being nominated for Classic FM Album of the Year, Alfie Boe and Michael Ball will be performing at the ceremony at London’s Royal Albert Hall.

It’s great to have the Classic BRITs back. The event is really about creating a crossover between genres, and bringing them together – how important is that to you?

“It’s a sensational idea,” said Michael Ball. “The GRAMMYs do that, don’t they – and we don’t seem to do that in this country. So now, the Classic BRITs are addressing that.”

In October last year, Michael and Alfie released Together Again, their second classical-crossover album which includes a West Side Story Medley and a cover of ‘He Lives in You’ from The Lion King.

How do the pair feel about bringing together classical music with musical theatre music?

Alfie Boe continued: “I don’t know if Michael agrees, but I don’t see any difference between genres. It isn’t the genres you’re bringing together, it’s the audiences. You’re creating a much wider audience.

“Music is music. You’re just introducing new artists to a much wider audience. That’s what the ‘crossover’ genre is for me, it’s crossing over the audiences – definitely not the music.”