London, May 9 : Composer Andrew Lloyd Webber has been honoured with the outstanding achievement prize at the annual Classical Brits awards for an unparalleled career in musical theatre.

The theatre 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, reports the Telegraph.

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

The award came on the day it was disclosed that the success of Lloyd Webber's musicals more than doubled profits at his company from 9 million pounds to 22 million pounds last year.

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

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