Il Divo, the international opera group will be given the first ever Artist of the Decade award at the upcoming Classic BRIT Awards to be held in London on May 12.

The four singers from Spain, Switzerland, the United States and France will be performing a new song at the show to celebrate the award which will be given to the group at the ceremony to be held at the Royal Albert Hall.

The band, who are signed to the Syco label owned by music mogul Simon Cowell, have already sold more than 25 million albums in their career since their debut went on sale in 2004.

The quartet have been given the award in recognition to the impact that they have made on classical music to a worldwide audience, creating new classical music fans and revitalising the industry for the 21^st century.

Member David Miller said: “When we joined Il Divo none of us had done anything like this before. We were excited to break from our traditional roots and create something new.”
He added: “Performing and recording are what we love, but receiving this award is a great honour.”

The performance at the Royal Albert Hall will be the groups first live show in the UK since 2008 at the ceremony to be hosted by classical music darling Myleene Klass, who has just given birth to her second child.