Classical is the new rock and roll, a new report says.

An article in the Telegraph says that classical music is popular as never before, with Sony BMG capitalising on "so-called "classical cross-over" artists such as Vanessa Mae, Russell Watson, Il Divo and G4, who have stormed the charts with updated versions of classical standards".

Sony BMG also wants to recruit choristers for a "manufactured" classical music band, along the lines of pop sensation Girls Aloud.

An advertisement in The Stage newspaper reads: "Are You the next Aled Jones or Charlotte Church? One of the UK's biggest record labels is looking for boys and girls aged 10-14 with the most exciting voices in the UK to form the next classical crossover band."

Michael Quinn, the deputy editor of classical music's Gramophone Magazine, said: "I think the classical crossover genre has a longer history than people realise.

"After all, it is what acts like the Three Tenors have being doing for such a long time. What is new, however, is the willingness of record labels to invest in these acts."