Contributor

Twenty year-old Essex pianist Benjamin Grosvenor became the youngest male recipient of a Classic BRIT Award last night, snatching the Critics’ Award from Sir Simon Rattle and Jirí Belohlávek at the ceremony which took place at London’s Albert Hall.

Twenty-five-year-old classical violinist Nicola Benedetti, who last week closed out the UK's Last Night of the Proms, has no desire to be a cross-over pop artist. Yet, her Proms' performance helped shoot her album "The Silver Violin" up to No. 32 on the UK album charts (ahead of Justin Beiber). With her record slated for U.S. release in Jan. 2013 and performances with the Pittsburgh and Dallas Symphonies and at the Ryder Cup closing ceremonies ahead, can she break through here?

The British have a complex relationship with the Eurovision Song Contest. Entrants have varied from the obscure (Bucks Fizz) to chart-toppers (Blue); from the critically acclaimed (Katrina & the Waves) to the ridiculed (Jemini). This year's entry is legendary singer Englebert Humperdinck,who at 76 is the competition's oldest male. But his label has a plan which includes an award-winning producer and songwriter and two albums in the pipeline.