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    Classic BRIT Awards 2012: behind the scenes!

    The glitz, the glamour, and all the classical artists under one roof at the Royal Albert Hall for the biggest award ceremony of the year - Classic FM sat in on the rehearsals and captured the atmosphere as it happened.

    1. Classic BRIT Awards 2012

      1. London Chamber Orchestra in rehearsal

      The London Chamber Orchestra and Crouch End Festival Chorus rehearsing 'Amazing Grace' in preparation for tonight's performance with Andrea Bocelli.

    2. Classic BRIT Awards 2012

      2. London Chamber Orchestra at the Classic BRIT Awards 2012

      The Royal Albert Hall is overrun with a whole host of classical musicians. The ceremony might not be starting for a few hours yet, but the atmosphere is electric.

    3. Classic BRIT Awards 2012

      3. The Royal Albert Hall

      Possibly the most glamorous place to eat one's lunch in London? The tables are laid in the middle of the Royal Albert Hall.

    4. Classic BRIT Awards 2012

      4. John Suchet at the Classic BRIT Awards 2012

      John Suchet is broadcasting live from the basement of the Royal Albert Hall. Jamie Crick will be here this afternoon.

    5. Classic BRIT Awards 2012

      5. Crouch End Festival Chorus at the Classic BRIT Awards 2012

      We can tell it's going to be a fantastic evening as the decorations and Classic BRITs logos adorn the Royal Albert Hall.

    6. Classic BRIT Awards 2012

      6. Classic FM at the Classic BRIT Awards 2012

      John Suchet broadcasts to the nation from various locations in the Royal Albert Hall. Who knows where he'll end up!

    7. Classic BRIT Awards 2012

      7. Rehearsals at the Classic BRIT Awards 2012

      A deputy Andrea Bocelli stands in during rehearsals so the tenor can save his voice in preparation for tonight's performance.

    8. Classic BRIT Awards 2012

      8. Rehearsals at the Classic BRIT Awards 2012

      Dazzling lights and beautiful music - we're gearing up for an amazing evening of awards tonight. The performers are rehearsing on stage throughout the day.

    9. Classic BRIT Awards 2012

      9. The Royal Albert Hall

      A bird's eye view of the tables at the Royal Albert Hall - later this evening, the hall will be filled with classical music's greatest performers, and a host of celebs to boot.

    10. Classic BRIT Awards 2012

      10. The stage at the Classic BRIT Awards 2012

      Nicola Benedetti, André Rieu, Andrea Bocelli, Gareth Malone, the Military Wives, Lord Lloyd Webber - so many big names, all on this very stage.

    11. Classic BRIT Awards 2012

      11. Double basses

      It's not just about the celebrities this evening - tonight is a celebration of classical music, from the smallest piccolo to the largest double bass.

    12. Classic BRIT Awards 2012

      12. Gareth Malone and the Military Wives

      Gareth Malone's arrived! Hiding among a group of singers for now, he'll be in the limelight later, conducting the Military Wives in their performance of 'Sing'.

    13. Classic BRIT Awards 2012

      13. Performers at the Royal Albert Hall

      Instrumentalists and singers line the corridors of the iconic concert hall, waiting to rehearse for this evening's fantastic concert.

    14. Classic BRIT Awards 2012

      14. Gareth Malone and the Military Wives

      On stage at the Royal Albert Hall, the Military Wives Choir are rehearsing 'Sing', the song they performed at the Jubilee concert. We can confirm it's sounding amazing.

    15. Classic BRIT Awards 2012

      15. The London Chamber Orchestra

      The London Chamber Orchestra accompany the fantastic Military Wives Choir, who are amplified all around the hall.

    16. Classic BRIT Awards 2012

      16. Backstage at the Classic BRIT Awards 2012

      The orchestra, the choir, Gareth Malone - it's all happening on stage at the Royal Albert Hall. Doesn't it look fantastic?

    17. Classic BRIT Awards 2012

      17. The Military Wives and the Crouch End Festival Chorus

      The Military Wives are nominated at this year's Classic BRIT Awards for their single 'Wherever You Are', by composer Paul Mealor

    18. Classic BRIT Awards 2012

      18. The Military Wives Choir

      Sounding amazing, the Military Wives Choir are being beamed out on big screens across the auditorium of the Royal Albert Hall.

    19. Classic BRIT Awards 2012

      19. Gareth Malone

      Gareth Malone will be performing on stage tonight with the Military Wives Choir, Lord Lloyd Webber, and Gary Barlow. A fantastic line-up!

    20. Classic BRIT Awards 2012

      20. Jamie Crick at the Classic BRIT Awards 2012

      Jamie Crick has arrived, broadcasting Classic FM Requests from around the building. We're here all day, broadcasting live from the Royal Albert Hall until 5pm.

    21. Classic BRIT Awards 2012

      21. Jamie Crick on the red carpet

      Jamie practises his carpet-laying skills, on the very carpet where we can expect to see classical music's biggest celebrities later tonight. Should you be on air, Jamie?

    22. Classic BRIT Awards 2012

      22. On stage at the Royal Albert Hall

      A full run through rehearsal is happening right now, with interludes for all the awards to be presented, and all the presenters' speeches being read out in full by stand-in members of the team.

    23. Classic BRIT Awards 2012

      23. Amazing Grace at the Royal Albert Hall

      A perfect backdrop for 'Amazing Grace', complete with bright lights and a beautiful sunrise. Capturing the full glamour of this evening's award ceremony - and it hasn't even started yet!

    24. Classic BRIT Awards 2012

      24. Myleene Klass at the Classic BRIT Awards 2012

      Myleene Klass rehearses her speeches on stage in the hall. Look closely and you can see the chandeliers used on stage in the Phantom of the Opera performance!

    25. Classic BRIT Awards 2012

      25. Phantom of the Opera

      Dry ice, shining lights, and amazing singing from the cast of Phantom of the Opera.

    26. Classic BRIT Awards 2012

      26. Benjamin Grosvenor

      Look who we've found - it's Benjamin Grosvenor! Well, he'll be sitting here later tonight. He's nominated for the Critics' Award and MasterCard's Breakthrough Artist of the Year Award.

    27. Classic BRIT Awards 2012

      27. Nicola Benedetti

      The beautiful Nicola Benedetti stuns the room into silence with her rendition of the theme from Schindler's List, and it's only the rehearsal. She's on stage now, performing in front a backdrop of a ballet dancer.

    28. Classic BRIT Awards 2012

      28. Nicola Benedetti in rehearsal

      Shining like a true star in rehearsal, we know Nicola will bring a touch of glamour to the red carpet. We'll be interviewing all the stars later this evening.

    29. Classic BRIT Awards 2012

      29. André Rieu and the Johann Strauss Orchestra

      An explosion of colour, on stage at the Royal Albert Hall, playing some brilliant Viennese music. A few guests are even waltzing at the front!

    30. Classic BRIT Awards 2012

      30. André Rieu and the Johann Strauss Orchestra

      Playing Strauss as we speak, André Rieu and his orchestra of beautifully attired musicians, adding a touch of fairytale magic to the afternoon's rehearsal.

    31. Gary Barlow rehearsing with the Military Wives for

      31. Gary Barlow, Andrew Lloyd Webber, and the Military Wives

      In an attempt to get as many celebrities on stage at once as possible, the stars of 'Sing' rehearse on stage.

    32. Gary Barlow rehearsing with the Military Wives for

      32. Gary Barlow, Gareth Malone, and the Military Wives

      In fine voice, the Military Wives are sure to wow the audience at tonight's performance. Accompanied by Gary Barlow on the piano, and expertly conducted by Gareth Malone.

    33. Gary Barlow rehearsing with the Military Wives for

      33. Classic BRIT Awards 2012 Rehearsals: Gary Barlow

      Combining the best of pop, musical theatre, and classical music, Gary Barlow and Lord Lloyd Webber perform a celebrity duet. We don't want to give too much away, but it's sounding amazing.

    34. Laura Wright laughing interviews

      34. Laura Wright and Lucy Coward

      It might be raining, but we're all out on the red carpet interviewing the stars. Soprano Laura Wright and Classic FM's newshound Lucy Coward share a joke before the show starts

    35. Gary Barlow and Gareth Malone Classic BRIT Award

      35. Gary Barlow and Gareth Malone

      Gary Barlow dashed away at the end of the evening, but he had time for a quick photo call with his choral chum, Gareth Malone, which he posted on Twitter.

    36. Classic BRIT Awards Red Carpet arrivals

      36. Hayley Westenra

      Hayley chats to Classic FM about her nominated album, 'Paradiso', under the Classic BRITs umbrella.

    37. Classic BRIT Awards Red Carpet arrivals

      37. Gareth Malone and the Military Wives

      Gareth Malone and the Military Wives chat to Lucy Coward before their bumper evening of performances. They also made an appearance at the launch party, so we caught up with them once more!

    38. Classic BRIT Awards 2012 backstage

      38. Backstage at the Classic BRITs

      Lights, camera, action - and Jamie Crick is on standby, ready to interview all the stars of the Classic BRITs.

    39. Alison balsom Classic BRIT Awards 2012 backstage

      39. Alison Balsom

      The trumpeter presented the Composer award this evening at the Classic BRITs.

    40. aled jones Classic BRIT Awards 2012 backstage

      40. Aled Jones and Jamie Crick

      Chorister-turned-chatshow host, Aled Jones, stayed up past his bedtime to share a few words with our very own Jamie Crick.

    41. nicola benedetti Classic BRIT Awards 2012 backstage

      41. Nicola Benedetti

      In her Dolce and Gabanna dress, Nicola looked and sounded amazing - she talked passionately about arts funding in her acceptance speech.

    42. Classic BRIT Awards 2012 backstage

      42. The cast of Phantom of the Opera chat to Jamie Crick

      After their spell-binding performance on stage, Jamie caught the West End stars backstage in the media room, before they got changed out of their costumes.

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