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TAPE_NUMBER: EN9925A IN_TIME: 11:21:36 LENGTH: 03:26 SOURCES: APTN/WARNER CLASSICS RESTRICTIONS: No re-use/re-sale film/video clips without clearance FEED: VARIOUS (THE ABOVE TIME-CODE IS TIME-OF-DAY) SCRIPT: xfa WARNER CLASSICS CELEBRATES 10TH BIRTHDAY Story: Warner classics 10th anniversary Location: London Date: June 22nd Superstar tenor JOSE CARRERAS and Portuguese singer MISIA were among the showcase of classical music talent celebrating the 10th anniversary of the record label Warner Classics in London yesterday. Established in 1989, the label's roster of international talent extends from the Three Tenors and Daniel Barenboim to Philip Glass and Zbigniew Preisner, with the labels biggest sellers being Henryk Gorecki's 'Symphony Number 3' and recordings of the Three Tenors in concert. Throughout the decade, the label has capitalised on the burgeoning demand for easy listening classic sounds - anything from timeless compositions through to the emergence of 'church music' and numerous compilations such as classical moods - all of which provide a soothing antidote to the more strident offerings blasting out of record stores. Very popular with the over thirties, the label has introduced a string of less well known classical artists on the back of more established names as the public's appetite for the genre grows. One such artist is portuguese chanteuse Misia, a leading exponent of the traditional Portuguese art form known as 'Fado'. Imbued with poetic mystery and melancholic nostalgia, the style dates back to the working class quarters of 19th century Lisbon. Violins and Accordions are the most popular instruments used evoking a mournful and melodic sound where close attention is paid to lyrics. Misia's powerful vocal range has injected a new lease of life into the repertoire and at the risk of upsetting Fado purists, she has brought on board contemporary Portuguese poets to update the texts. The results have been released on the 1998 album 'Garras Dos Sentidos' and this year's release 'Paixoes Diagonias.' So far Misia has taken the sounds of Lisbon on tour around the world introducing classical afficionados to the haunting traditions of the fado. Japan, Australia and the Lebanon are some of the countries she's visited outside Europe. At the top of the Warner classics stable is one of the word's finest tenors, Jose Carreras. Fans of the Spanish singer are eagerly awaiting his next solo album entitled 'Pure Passion' which is due to hit records stores in September. The superstar of arena opera has decided to follow up the smash success of his last solo project called 'Passion,' with another collection of personally chosen songs that showcase his unique vocal talents. Music originally for piano is the central theme running throughout the album and Carreras perfomed a selection especially for the 10th anniversary celebration. Among them are Albeiniz's 'Tango', Richard Addinsell's 'Warsaw Concerto,' Ricihard Wagner's 'Europa,' Franz Schubert's 'Dimmi Perche' and Chopin's 'Le Note Di Chopin.' Perhaps the biggest suprise is the inclusion of 'Celebration' a composition taken from Sir Paul McCartney's foray into the classicals world with his 'Standing Stone' album. Asked about the perception that he is at the vanguard of popularising classical music for the masses, he answers: 'Well, I think that great artists from the past have already broken ranks with purely classical music- I'm talking about tenors, in particular singers like Caruso, gigli, Schipa, John McCormack and di Stefano. They did not sing only the operatic and classical repertory in their concerts and recitals, but they also used to sing the most popular music of their time. And what I am trying to do today, is simply to continue that legacy...' For Further information contact Warner Classics International on: 00 44 171 535 9000 SHOTLIST: WS SAVOY ENTRANCE ; CU SAVOY SIGN ; ARRIVAL FIONA FULLERTON ; ARRIVAL ELAINE PAIGE ; HONOR BLACKMAN AT RECEPTION ; OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST SEBASTIAN COE AT RECEPTION ; PAIGE AND FORMER TV NEWSREADER ANGELA RIPPON AT RECEPTION ; GV PARTY SCENES ; FILE FOOTAGE THREE TENORS IN CONCERT (PARIS, JULY 1998) ; JOSE CURA IN STUDIO PERFORMING PUCCINI ARIAS ; ERATO 'AGNUS DEI' ; LIVE PERFORMANCE MISIA ; SOT MISIA (ON PERFORMING HER NEW WORK FOR THE FIRST TIME AT THE BIRTHDAY PARTY) ; PERFORMANCE JOSE CARRERAS ; SOT CARRERAS (ON RECORDING PAUL MCCARTNEY SONG) ; PERFORMANCE CARRERAS AND PULL OUT ?