I do not adhere to the notion of cancelling everything. National Children's Orchestra of Great Britain, Member of the Order of the British Empire, Commander of the Order of the British Empire, "Nicola Benedetti becomes first woman and first Scot to lead Edinburgh international festival", "Nicola Benedetti to become our next festival director", "Violinist Nicola Benedetti Named BBC Young Musician of the Year", "Benedetti makes music, not stardom, priority", "Rankin the toast of Scotland as fans sing his praises", "McConnell bows to pressure over young musician", "Prom 76: Last Night of the Proms review", "Banker lent me 6.3m Stradivarius after he heard me playing", "Portrait Artist of the Year, review: Barry Humphries was the very model of wit in this vibrant finale", "Sky Portrait Artist of the Year: Young Bonnybridge graduate is first Scot to take title", "Violinist Nicola Benedetti debuts in Rome", "Nicola Benedetti Studying at York, University of York", "Violinist Nicola Benedetti receives Order of the British Empire", "BBC 100 Women 2015: Who is on the list? As she launches her new album, the star violinist is frustrated at the restrictions on live performance, but is determined to bring music to the masses regardless. In October 2003, as the extra feature on this DVD, "Playing With Passion" was filmed and released by Mattel. When the pandemic abruptly smothered live music, the violinist Nicola Benedetti threw her considerable energy into finding new ways to connect people online to music and, through that, to one another. You need that in an artistic leader. Violinist Nicola Benedetti accompanies real Ukrainian refugees stories with a soaring, Russian maestro Vladimir Jurowski joins classical stars in high-profile Stop the War, With Nicky: Nicola Benedettis educational violin videos with practice tips, 80 percent of schoolchildren say more could be done to engage young people with, Download 'Violin Concerto in A minor (2)' on iTunes. When asked what kind of house she grew up in, she replied, a big one. After first picking up the violin at 4, Benedetti swapped the picturesque Ayrshire village of West Kilbride in Scotland for the extreme environment of the Yehudi Menuhin music school in Surrey, England, five years later. Linehan, who will announce Augusts festival programme this month, has previously said he wants the event to be a huge civic moment from celebration to requiem after the Covid crisis. The pieces with piano Salut dAmour, Sospiri and Chanson de Nuit are almost the flipside to this. Salut dAmour sounds fresh, and is played with an understated sigh that draws the ear in. Her ability to captivate audiences and her wide appeal as an advocate for classical music has made her one of the most influential artists of today. For people in the live performance industry, its difficult not to draw those comparisons and feel youre being unfairly penalised.. Stephen Houghs long-awaited recording of the complete five piano concertos is a partnership with conductor Hannu Lintu and the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, and the sparks struck between their crisp responsiveness and Houghs immaculate blend of imagination and control are considerable. The great unknown is how much, in a really tricky climate, the Benedetti factor will end up benefiting the festival, said Brian Ferguson, an arts correspondent for The Scotsman. Stark Talk with Nicola Benedetti is on BBC Radio Scotland today at 1.30pm. Unlike her immediate predecessors, Benedetti has no experience running large arts festivals but has built up a significant reputation as an arts educator and ambassador for classical music, particularly with younger musicians and schools. entry level java developer internship; dodgy builders queensland. You must be at least 18 years old to create an account, Must be at least 6 characters, include an upper and lower case character and a number, I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from Evening Standard. It culminates in a new recording, concerts at Battersea Arts Centre in July, and the Edinburgh Festival, where Benedetti is artist-in-residence. From BBC Young Musician to one of the biggest names in music today: discover the life of brilliant Scottish violinist Nicola Benedetti. Her most recent album Baroque (2021), recorded at Battersea Arts Centre celebrated the joy of Vivaldi, Corelli and Geminiani after a long period of silence for the music industry amid the coronavirus pandemic. By the age of nine, Nicola had already passed the eight grades of musical examinations. Nicola Benedetti is one of the most sought-after violinists of her generation. Premiere. For many, the appointment came as a surprise. She added that, while her older sister Stephanie was now married and other friends were settling down with partners and children, she has no regrets about her personal life. Benedetti premiered James MacMillans Violin Concerto No. Im not saying that singing a song is the answer to everybodys problems. Grammy and Brit-award-winning violinist will take over from Fergus Linehan after this years 75th anniversary event. Calum is now planning his first solo exhibition. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. After walking on stage to collect the prestigious accolade, Benedetti said: I am so honoured to have won a Grammy for Best Classical Instrumental Solo and to have performed at the Grammy Awards Premiere Ceremony. Nicola was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2019 New Year Honours list, awarded the Queens Medal for Music in 2017, the youngest ever recipient, and was appointed as a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 2013 in recognition of her international music career and work with musical charities throughout the United Kingdom. Her violin concerto to a score by the jazz trumpeter and composer Wynton Marsalis also won a Grammy that year. Since its launch, the Foundation has worked with over 29,000 participants, aged 2 to 92, from 103 . Find out more about her best recordings, awards, and her Stradivarius violin. Anyone can read what you share. It was a memorable evening for the Scottish-born violinist, who also took home a Grammy Award for Best Classical Instrumental Solo. Nicola Benedettis most acclaimed releases include her 2019 recording of Wynton Marsaliss Violin Concerto and Fiddle Dance Suite, her 2016 album of Shostakovich and Glazunov Violin Concertos, and her 2012 Silver Violin album which put the Korngold violin concerto at its heart, creating an almost viral effect among violinists. Violinist Nicola Benedetti stunned audiences at the 62nd Grammy Awards Premiere Ceremony last night with an elegant solo performance. How does she plan on selling the festivals more traditional audience on all of that? [13], Apart from solo performances, Benedetti performs in a trio with the German cellist Leonard Elschenbroich and the British-Ukrainian pianist Alexei Grynyuk. In 20212022, Nicola opens the Barbican Centres season and amongst others, performs with the London Symphony Orchestra, Netherlands Radio Philharmonic and Cincinnati Symphony. Whats special about their sound, their identity?, There will even be an attempt to break down traditional genre boundaries, and recategorize through intensity of experience, and type of experience, Benedetti said. Shes not only a brilliant musician, but shes also a thought leader committed to creative education. At 34, she is also one of the festivals youngest directors. She premiered James MacMillans Violin Concerto No. Nicola Benedetti - Baroque 54,554 views 1 year ago The Italian Baroque, and in particular the music of Antonio Vivaldi, polarises musicians and music lovers alike. The arts can help with that., Nicola Benedettis new album Baroque is released on Decca Classics on July 16. Born in the Scottish town of Irvine, of Italian heritage, Nicola began violin lessons at the age of four with Brenda Smith. But for Benedetti, the more significant change has been psychological: feeling grounded enough in her technique to free up and really explore, even in the fastest, most intricately patterned corners of her repertoire, like Wynton Marsaliss Violin Concerto, written for her in 2015 and reprised by Benedetti on many occasions. What about how the music sounds? she continues. Last fall, the Edinburgh Film Festival went into administration, which is similar to bankruptcy in the United States. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Her latest recordings of Vivaldi Concerti and Elgars Violin Concerto entered at number one in the UKs Official Classical Album Chart. He said his Dundee tutors encouraged students to apply for "every opportunity that arises". [25] In 2019 she was also given the annual Royal Medal award by the Royal Society of Edinburgh for improving the lives of deprived Scottish children through Sistema Scotland and the Big Noise Orchestras. BRUCKNER Symphony No. She is not afraid to express her anger about the provision of music in UK schools: "Decisions have been made, especially in the light of funding cuts, that are, I think, catastrophic to our future as a nation.". Nicola Benedetti, a Scottish-Italian violinist and music education ambassador, is one of the leading classical musicians of her generation. BBC Scotland, using this DVD, created a documentary on Benedetti, which was broadcast on television in the UK in March 2004. A summer day in Berlin last year offered an alternative to that; Benedetti found herself shielding from too much community, focusing on her concert there rather than on a city full of friends. Each email has a link to unsubscribe. A lot of bad feeling comes when youre doing your part, but the rest of society isnt doing theirs. Nicola Benedetti zodiac sign is a Cancer. Since its launch, the Foundation has worked with over 50,000 participants, age 2-92, from 103 countries through its transformative in-person workshops and online sessions for young people, students, teachers and adults. Nicola Benedetti, who has made a career as a violin soloist, is taking on a festival next, with the aim, she said, to provide the deepest possible experience for people.CreditRobert Ormerod for The New York Times. I left school at 15 and between the ages of 15 to 23, where you form some of those really strong bonds, I was basically on my own out there. In 2019, Nicola formalised her commitment to music in education when she established The Benedetti Foundation. Nicola Benedetti is one of the most sought-after violinists of her generation. Sam Pittis This account already exists. Those born under the zodiac sign Cancer need to be needed. In 2004, she won BBC Young Musician, launching her career as an international concert violinist. Another Beethoven recording that urgently demands shelf (or disc) space. Are we actually looking to hear some origins of Ghanaian drumming, for example, not just a generic Africa as if its a country? Read our, {{#verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} {{^verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}}. Nicola Benedettis new recording out today as a download, with the CD release planned for July brings together his huge, sumptuous 1910 Violin Concerto with three miniatures for violin and piano that nevertheless say a lot in a few minutes. It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse. But she added: I might struggle with not being with somebody that really understood the full extent, or not even understood but was willing to and able to discuss things relating to music its a topic that Im interested in and would like to be able to share with a partner. Nicola was just awarded her first-ever GRAMMY for her recording of the Wynton Marsalis Violin Concerto with the Philadelphia Orchestra and conductor Cristian Mcelaru. Nicola Benedetti, who has made a career as a violin soloist, is taking on a festival next, with the aim, she said, "to provide the deepest possible experience for people." Robert Ormerod for. Recent months, however, have been thorny for advocates of El Sistema. Benedetti, a Grammy and Brit awards winner, is also the first Scot to direct the festival since its foundation in 1947, adding to the dramatic impact her appointment is likely to have on the events wider popularity and fame. Those ads you do see are predominantly from local businesses promoting local services. Keith Skeoch, an investment banker who chairs the festivals board of trustees, said: In many ways she reflects the spirit of this festival. I always thought that she was keen to expand in that direction, said Richard Morrison, the chief culture writer for The Times of London, adding, that did rather shock me, that shed be prepared to devote quite so much of her time and energy to that huge project.. Benedetti quickly shuts down questions about her personal life, and about the large ring on her finger. Her 2012 album The Silver Violin was the first solo instrumental album in decades not only to top the classical charts but also enter the top 30 pop album charts. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories. In December 2020, Nicola formed the Benedetti Baroque Orchestra which gathers freelance period-instrument players who collectively join together to create the highest level of collaborative and energised musicmaking. Her ability to captivate audiences with her innate musicianship and spirited presence, coupled with her wide appeal as a high-profile advocate for classical music, has made her one of the most influential classical artists of today. Benedetti/London Philharmonic Orchestra/ Jurowski/Limonov(Decca)Benedettis tone and decisiveness is made for this work, and she brings an understated edge to the added miniatures, too. Nicola Benedetti is the first Scotland native and the first woman to serve as director of the storied Edinburgh International Festival. The Benedetti Baroque Orchestra performs eight live concerts at Battersea Arts Centre, July 18-21; bac.org.uk andBaroque Virtual Sessions run online until August 1 at benedettifoundation.org. Nicola Benedetti is one of the most sought-after violinists of her generation. In May 2004, at the age of 16, Benedetti won the BBC Young Musician of the Year competition, performing Karol Szymanowski's First Violin Concerto in the final at the Usher Hall in Edinburgh, with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra. In March 2022, Nicola became the Director Designate of the Edinburgh International Festival, becoming Festival Director on 1 October 2022. contact the editor here. Do you mind? A pattern quickly emerged: a question, a tidal wave of thoughts on the profundity of art, a pause for breath and then, eventually, a chip. She said: Its not mine and I dont think it ever will be. But for people to problem-solve successfully, they need an open, positive and free mind. I dont think its a healthy direction. Nicola took home her first Grammy Award in January 2020, winning the Best Classical Instrumental Solo for her recording of Wynton Marsalis Violin Concerto and Fiddle Dance Suite. The move places her close to relatives for the first time since she was a child; shes a 15-minute drive from her sister (and fellow violinist) Stephanie Benedetti, along with her 1-year-old nephew Nico and 3-year-old niece Sienna, who received her first miniature violin for Christmas. Ive heard politicians in Scotland say their focus in education, coming out of this period, is not to prioritise grade results, but to get peoples spirits and souls back to feeling creative and positive. The Foundation unites those who believe that music is integral to a great education and demonstrates ground-breaking teaching by producing and delivering innovative and creative musical experiences accessible to all. Her experience in promoting Scotlands cultural scene to audiences around the world will be invaluable and I wish her every success.. If your priority in life is not to play your instrument to the highest possible level, I would not encourage people to go into that environment, Benedetti said, but then defended the schools specific commitment to excellence. contact IPSO here, 2001-2023. Its current board, appointed in 2019, is the first in the events history to have a female majority membership and greater ethnic diversity, signalling its intentions to become more representative and, by appointing members with expertise in digital arts, broaden its output. Nicola Benedetti Founder and Artistic Director Nicola Benedetti is one of the most sought-after violinists of her generation. We are the arts, we are an area of music and were supposed to be telling the full gamut of the human story, so we should be hearing it as well as seeing it.. If you have a complaint about the editorial content which relates to Her ability was recognised when she was a child, including the award of BBC Young Musician of the Year when she was 16. Do you know this baby? His previous portrait subjects on the Sky Arts show included actress Kelly Macdonald and Pink Floyd's Nick Mason. And family, she quickly added. "I've always been drawn to the figure, and there is something about it that I find really interesting, but I'm not putting any limits on how my work develops. Magisterial one moment, wry the next, Hough is a whole orchestra in himself, and not a note is wasted. My sisters married now and in a very kind of settled place in her life, but shes 35, and a lot of my friends are in similar circumstances; they live in a house with a partner and have children or are going to have children, and obviously Im not at that point yet.. 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She added: Occasionally I have played at a surprise birthday party for his mother and I always invite him to every concert that I do thats in London, but its an unbelievable gift and privilege that Im eternally grateful for., READ MORE:Nicola Benedetti performs intimate gig in the Ayrshire house she grew up in. Tue 1 Mar 2022 10.37 EST First published on Tue 1 Mar 2022 07.00 EST Nicola Benedetti, the award-winning Scottish violinist, is to take over as director of the Edinburgh international festival,. Benedetti's innate musicianship and spirited presence makes her one of the most sought-after violinists today, coupled with the pre-eminent Scottish composer of his generation, James . [3] She started to play the violin at the age of four with lessons from Brenda Smith. Nicola begins her 2022-2023 season with a performance of the Marsalis Violin Concerto with the RSNO at the BBC Proms and Mendelssohns Violin Concerto with Kazuki Yamada and the CBSO. [10] Following a public and political outcry, McConnell bowed to the pressure and telephoned Benedetti to acknowledge her success. [29], In 2022, she was appointed honorary president of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (RCS). Calum Stevenson, 23, won Portrait Artist of the Year with his painting of entertainer Barry Humphries. Get involved in exciting, inspiring conversations. Nicola Benedetti, a Scottish-Italian violinist and music education ambassador, is one of the leading classical musicians of her generation. Nicola champions the commissioning of new works which has recently included Mark Simpsons critically acclaimed Violin Concerto, written for Nicola with the London Symphony Orchestra, and Wynton Marsaliss Violin Concerto which won a GRAMMY Award for Best Classical Instrumental Solo in 2020. Her brain, she admitted, goes in 20 different directions at once. But her aim for the Edinburgh festival is focused: to provide the deepest possible experience for people. That should make the thrill for the NYOGB youngsters in the Royal Albert Hall even greater. Comments have been closed on this article. His painting of Benedetti will now be displayed at the Scottish National Portrait Gallery in Edinburgh. He said: "I never made a conscious decision to specialise in portraiture and would describe myself as a figurative painter. In the past, the journalists job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Her commitment to supporting the UKs music practitioners was underlined in July 2018, when Nicola took over as President of the European String Teachers Association. In a brief statement, Benedetti said: I am deeply honoured to contribute to the long and rich history of the Edinburgh international festival and the cultural landscape of Scotland. Other recent recordings include her GRAMMY award-winning album written especially for her by jazz musician Wynton Marsalis: Violin Concerto in D and Fiddle Dance Suite for Solo Violin. In partnership with The Benedetti Foundation, Benedetti will release a new video on her YouTube channel once a month, starting with tips around . To hear that in Scotland was incredibly heart-warming. Nicola Benedetti is one of the most sought-after violinists of her generation. inaccuracy or intrusion, then please The violin Nicola plays is called the Gariel, made in 1717 by Stradivarius. [4] By the age of nine, she had already passed the eight grades of musical examinations while attending the independent Wellington School, Ayr,[5] and, in September 1997, began to study at the Yehudi Menuhin School for young musicians under Lord Menuhin and Natasha Boyarskaya in rural Surrey, England.