Andrew Lloyd Webber's Classical Brits triumph

Andrew Lloyd Webber has been honoured with an outstanding achievement award at the Classical Brits for an unparalleled career in musical theatre.

The impresario received a standing ovation from the audience at London’s Royal Albert Hall as he accepted the accolade.

Sarah Brightman, Lloyd Webber’s former wife, performed Pie Jesu, from his Grammy Award-winning Requiem Mass which premiered in 1992.

Lloyd Webber composed Requiem in memory of his late father, William, and has described it as “the most personal of all my compositions”.

The Classical Brits, now in their ninth year, were hosted by the television presenter Myleene Klass.

The Album of the Year award, the only category to be voted by the general public, went to Blake, the “classical boy band” who met via Facebook, the social networking site.  

Anna Netrebko, the Russian soprano, won Female Artist of the Year and performed at the event with Andrea Bocelli.

Sir Colin Davis, president of the London Symphony Orchestra, was named Male Artist of the Year.

“The Classical Brit Awards will be broadcast on ITV1 on May 15 at 10.35pm.