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.. Taking on this role meant I really had to double down on my commitment to continually improving as a musician, she said. Her ability was recognised when she was a child, including the award of BBC Young Musician of the Year when she was 16. IF BENEDETTI IS AMBITIOUS, that stems from her father, Gio. Share it, expose it, give it and try to enrich other people with what you have managed to achieve.". Enter your password to log in. Find out more about her best recordings, awards, and her Stradivarius violin. That should make the thrill for the NYOGB youngsters in the Royal Albert Hall even greater. 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 . Grammy and Brit-award-winning violinist will take over from Fergus Linehan after this years 75th anniversary event. Past performances include Wigmore Hall, the Concertgebouw, Edinburgh International Festival, Alte Oper, Frankfurt, the Ravinia Festival, 92nd Street Y, New York and City Hall, Hong Kong. BBC Scotland, using this DVD, created a documentary on Benedetti, which was broadcast on television in the UK in March 2004. She has even restarted sporadic lessons, with the violinist Andrea Gajic, to help regain confidence after a wrist injury that forced her to pull out of a residency last summer at the Aldeburgh Festival in England. When you feel youre making enormous sacrifices for the sake of your civic duty to other people, you want to know that everyone else is participating in that too. Dates of Cancer are June 21 - July 22. Its going to be paramount to our success. Were unapologetic and uncompromising on the weight, depth and profundity of the art that the festival presents, to the maximum number of people and the broadest possible audience., Morrison said that her vision is not elitist, but that it also does not sacrifice excellence, which, in a way, is slightly contrary to what the politicians and the bureaucrats are pushing towards in both England and Scotland.. Since shooting to fame aged 16, winning the BBC Young Musician of the Year in 2004, Benedetti (who turns 34 this summer) has scarcely taken a break, even during the pandemic. Sign up for exclusive newsletters, comment on stories, enter competitions and attend events. Nicola Benedetti 2 years ago Happy Holidays from Nicky and the Benedetti Foundation. [14], Nicola was chosen as the subject for the winner of the Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year 2021, Calum Stevenson, and this portrait now hangs in the Scottish National Portrait Gallery.[15][16]. BRUCKNER Symphony No. This year, allegations of sexual and psychological abuse within El Sistema in Venezuela have emerged as some former students spoke out about their experiences. I feel like Ive become a lot more confident over time as a violinist, she said. I dont have regrets in terms of my personal life. Data returned from the Piano 'meterActive/meterExpired' callback event. JAMES MACMILLAN Violin Concerto No. It is important that we continue to promote these adverts as our local businesses need as much support as possible during these challenging times. Nicola continues to hold key positions in a number of the countrys most established and high-quality youth music organisations including the National Childrens Orchestras (Vice President), Sistema Scotland (Big Sister), National Youth Orchestras of Scotlands Junior Orchestra (Patron), Music in Secondary Schools Trust (Patron), Junior Conservatoire at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (Patron) and many more. Benedetti, 32, said she and her partner of 10 years, Leonard Elschenbroich, separated in 2017 after their relationship evolved but revealed the former couple remain extremely close. rental house in winslow, az by owner. Further engagements include the world premiere of James MacMillans Violin Concerto with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, a tour to Japan with the BBC Symphony Orchestra and performances with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Hall, DSO Berlin, St Louis Symphony, Netherlands Radio Philharmonic, Gothenburg Symphony and Orchestre de Paris amongst others. Logan Roy would hate me, says Succession star Brian Cox, Rose Ayling-Ellis: Im done with being token deaf character on TV, Beautiful and tender: Brown Boys Swim wins Edinburgh fringe Popcorn award, Edinburgh faces rat surge due to refuse workers strike, warn heritage leaders, Jerry Sadowitz hits back after show cancelled: My act is being cheapened, Jerry Sadowitz Edinburgh fringe standup show axed due to complaints, We do turn up the bass: deaf ravers party at first Edinburgh deaf festival, Equity union launches working practices charter for comedians. International Sistema organisations rapidly distanced themselves and Sistema Scotland was one of the first to do so. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. She won BBC Young Musician of the Year in 2004. She will succeed Fergus Linehan, an Irish arts administrator who staged his first festival in 2015, in October. An Italian migr who left school in Scotland at age 15, he would later embark on a series of financially successful, idiosyncratic business ventures in dry cleaning, cling-film dispensers and first-aid kits. Nicola Benedetti says her first love is music and her second love is educating people through the art of music. He said: "I never made a conscious decision to specialise in portraiture and would describe myself as a figurative painter. But I see that whichever path you take youre missing something, so yes I could wallow in not having such a settled life but much of that is choice too and I have big things I want to solidify and achieve, and they feed me energy.. Newsquest Media Group Ltd, Loudwater Mill, Station Road, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire. That made an already quite lonely profession a bit more lonely.. Sam Pittis 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. 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. 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. 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. Two years later, in the 2019 New Year Honours, she was awarded a CBE for services to music. Will putting an international Scottish soloist with a national voice in this leadership position help attract private donors? [23], In May 2017, she was presented with the Queen's Medal for Music, the youngest of the twelve people to receive the award since it was established in 2005. 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. [22] In 2015, she was listed as one of BBC's 100 Women. She is one of Britains most committed spokespeople for music education, whether running her online violin course, With Nicky, or being Big Sister for Sistema Scotland. Too many times in my life Ive seen, Lets have the whole nation playing the violin in two years, and people saying, Our world will be fixed if that happens, Benedetti said of the organizations constructive role within the wider education ecosystem. Conductors with whom Nicola has worked include Marin Alsop, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Ji Blohlvek, Karina Canellakis, Christoph Eschenbach, Ivn Fischer, James Gaffigan, Jakub Hra, Kirill Karabits, Kristjan Jrvi, Vladimir Jurowski, Cristian Mcelaru, Zubin Mehta, Andrea Marcon, Gianandrea Noseda, Michael Tilson Thomas, Robin Ticciati, Vasily Petrenko, Donald Runnicles, Thomas Sndergrd, Pinchas Zukerman and Jaap van Zweden. Nicola has continued her role as a dedicated, passionate ambassador and leader in music education. Winner of the 2020 GRAMMY Award for "Best Classical Instrumental Solo," as well . "But I just had to get on with it, and I like to think I was a lot more composed by the end of the series.". Got to hand it to her Nicola Benedetti. Her experience in promoting Scotlands cultural scene to audiences around the world will be invaluable and I wish her every success.. In 1997, she entered the Yehudi Menuhin School where she studied with Natasha Boyarskaya. Shes inherited her fathers uninhibitedness. [9] Despite winning the competition, The Times reported that Benedetti was snubbed by Jack McConnell, the then First Minister of Scotland, who thought that there was insufficient public interest to merit a personal message of congratulations. Music is no answer to this horrendous situation, but we will do what we can to raise money for the millions who are displaced and in need.We can only pray, as we do for all conflict currently taking place around the world, for it to end as soon as possible. Benedetti has an absolute mission of her own. Within minutes, she flipped from arch idealist to blunt realist: Im in a position which is constantly doing this, she said, putting her index fingers together, and wiggling them like a seismometer needle. Putting names to archive photos, The children left behind in Cuba's mass exodus, In photos: India's disappearing single-screen cinemas. He had a real spirit for change, for making stuff happen, and was very, very ambitious about owning something, and about making money, Benedetti said, adding, hed be the first one to say that, hes not bashful at all about that.. Nicola was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2019 New Year Honours list, for her services to music. Last fall, the Edinburgh Film Festival went into administration, which is similar to bankruptcy in the United States. Nicola Benedetti Founder and Artistic Director Nicola Benedetti is one of the most sought-after violinists of her generation. The Benedetti Foundation is a music education charity established in 2019 by violinist and dedicated advocate Nicola Benedetti CBE. She premiered James MacMillans Violin Concerto No. I didnt win the Tchaikovsky Violin Competition, I didnt win the Joachim Competition thats not what I won, she said. 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. Premiere. Benedetti said that she doesnt expect resistance from Edinburgh International Festival regulars: I have a lot of trust in people. Despite travelling all over the world, Nicola says she hasn't found any country that's more beautiful than Scotland. And I expect a lot from them., It will be one of the hottest tickets in town, pop music into the festival for the first time, in 2015. 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. She reckons that when we emerge from the pandemic, music and musical education have a crucial role to play. Founded to revitalise European classic music in the aftermath of the second world war, the Edinburgh international festival has sought to increase its artistic and cultural diversity under Linehan and his Australian predecessor, Sir Jonathan Mills. Her latest recordings of Vivaldi Concerti and Elgars Violin Concerto entered at number one in the UKs Official Classical Album Chart. Each email has a link to unsubscribe. 2023 BBC. [It] brings millions together through the basic act of listening and thousands together through the act of making melody, rhythm and harmony in the practice and service of collective expression. 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. Nicola enjoys working with the highest level of orchestras including collaborations with the London Symphony Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, Leipzig Gewandhausorchester, Frankfurt Radio Symphony, Czech Philharmonic, Budapest Festival Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony, Chicago Symphony Orchestra and National Symphony Orchestra of Washington DC. Anyone can read what you share. The violin Nicola plays is called the Gariel, made in 1717 by Stradivarius. Nicola Benedetti's 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 . The diversity of music that we hear is going to remain, she said. What do we want from the world? June 30, 2022 . Subsequent performances followed with the City of London Sinfonia, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Scottish Opera, Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Royal Scottish National Orchestra, etc. A champion of modern compositions, the soloist became the youngest recipient of the Queens medal for music in 2017 and formed the Benedetti Baroque Orchestra in 2020. What all humans bring to anything we create can be good and can be bad. [13], Apart from solo performances, Benedetti performs in a trio with the German cellist Leonard Elschenbroich and the British-Ukrainian pianist Alexei Grynyuk. To say that musicians have felt frustrated and dispirited these past months is not saying enough. Benedetti does not mince her words: Its difficult when you see the football with 40,000 to 60,000 people gathering just in official numbers in official venues, never mind millions in the streets, and you look at musicians restrictions in that context. Nicola has said if a fire broke out in her home, she would grab her violin before her cat. 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. 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. All kinds of areas have unbelievable musical traditions. Her interpretation may lack the introspective quality of the revelatory recording Nigel Kennedy made back in the mid 1980s, and you occasionally wish Jurowski would risk letting the orchestra run away from him, but the end result is a performance with a sure sense of direction and lots of heart. From BBC Young Musician to one of the biggest names in music today: discover the life of brilliant Scottish violinist Nicola Benedetti. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. FABIO LUISI conducts. Nicola Benedetti was born in Scotland - in West Kilbride - in 1987 and began playing the violin at the age of four. During school holidays, Nicola and her sister had to work for three hours every morning before they could go out to play. Calum Stevenson, 23, won Portrait Artist of the Year with his painting of entertainer Barry Humphries. Are we actually looking to hear some origins of Ghanaian drumming, for example, not just a generic Africa as if its a country? She became the first woman and first Scottish person to lead[1] the Edinburgh International Festival when she was made Festival Director on 1 October 2022. Johann Sebastian Bach If you have a complaint about the editorial content which relates to Nicola Benedetti is the first Scotland native and the first woman to serve as director of the storied Edinburgh International Festival. 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. We provide equal access to music participation and appreciation for all whilst . On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. he violin was Edward Elgars instrument, and when he was composing he thought as a string player: you can hear the idiomatic shaping of lines, the relishing of sonorities, in everything he wrote. Readers comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. Unsurprisingly from such a tireless campaigner and educator, thats not quite all: Benedetti has filmed five video lessons on Salut dAmour for her YouTube channel, inspiring lockdown practice material for violin or viola students of any age. EDINBURGH Not long into an interview with the violinist Nicola Benedetti, there was a knock at the door. Edinburgh is twinned with the city of Kyiv and this action is being taken in sympathy with, and support of, its citizens, it said. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com. The pieces with piano Salut dAmour, Sospiri and Chanson de Nuit are almost the flipside to this. Find out more about her best recordings, awards, and her Stradivarius violin. This person, she said, pointing to the ring. At 34, she is also one of the festivals youngest directors. Nicola was appointed a CBE in 2019, awarded the Queens Medal for Music (2017), and an MBE in 2013. Not just somebody who is a fantastic creative person, but somebody who understands policy, and the impact of culture on society.Jennifer Tuckett, the director of University Women in the Arts, a mentoring organisation to help improve the transition for women from studying to working in the arts, said she was delighted to hear of Benedettis appointment.Research by the organisation conducted at the University of Cambridge in 2019 showed that having women in leadership positions and female role models makes a big difference in terms of what seems possible to the next generation, she said. Salut dAmour sounds fresh, and is played with an understated sigh that draws the ear in. Benedetti has been guarded about her private life in the past and, when asked by presenter Edi Stark, Is there anybody in your sights? she only said: Maybe, maybe not, I dont know. Comments have been closed on this article. Stark Talk with Nicola Benedetti is on BBC Radio Scotland today at 1.30pm. 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. In the past, the journalists job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. But for people to problem-solve successfully, they need an open, positive and free mind. Benedettis goal of bringing in broader audiences is one that was shared by her predecessor, Fergus Linehan, who incorporated pop music into the festival for the first time, in 2015. contact IPSO here, 2001-2023. ViolinistNicola Benedetti stunned audiences at the 62nd Grammy Awards Premiere Ceremony last night with an elegant solo performance. As a child she studied at the Yehudi Menuhin School before going on to win. 1 by Max Bruch. 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.
