Friday, August 10, 2007

Nicola Benedetti,19: Stunning Looks, Brilliant Execution -Classic Violinist

The ANNOTICO Report

 

From Prodigy to Professional:   Nicola Benedetti started to learn the violin at the age of four. By the age of nine, she had already passed the eight grades of musical examinations, and in September 1997 began to study under  Lord Yehudi Menuhin .   

In 1999, Nicola performed with the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland in the presence of HRH Prince Edward. In 2000, Nicola performed with the Royal Scottish National Opera and the Scottish Opera.

Nicola played to the Prince again in 2001 when she performed a concerto with the London Mozart Players at St. James's Palace. Subsequent performances followed with the City of London Sinfonia, as well as the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Scottish Opera, Scottish Chamber, Royal Scottish National Orchestra, etc.

In August 2002, she won the United Kingdom's Brilliant Prodigy Competition, broadcast by Carlton Television. She left the Menuhin School shortly after, and at the age of 15 began studying privately with Maciej Rakowski, former leader of the English Chamber Orchestra

 BBC Scotland, incorporating her performance as soloist for the  London Symphony Orchestra, filmed the documentary of Nicola Benedetti and her life with violin and broadcast  "Playing With Passion" on national UK television in March 2004.

At the age of 16, she won the BBC Young Musician of the Year competition in May 2004, Because of this brilliant victory, she won the music section of the Top Scot award in December 2005

At the end of 2004, she agreed to a 1million pound six-album recordings contract with Deutsche Grammophon/Universal Music Group Classics and Jazz.

Nicola's debut album released on the Deutsche Grammophon label in April 2005, and her debut US tour also in 2005.

Nicola's 2nd album, released May 2006. and includes James MacMillan's From Ayrshire, written especially for her.

Nicola Benedetti,  was up for three awards at the 2007 Classical Brits Awards  -  best album, best instrumentalist and best young performer - but did not win any. There were three nominations in all categories except Best Album, with ten.

Best Album was won by Sir Paul McCartney with his fourth classical album Ecce Cor Meum (Behold My Heart) who also bested "Sting"  with his "Labyrinth" 

Best Insturmentalist was won by Leif Ove Andsnes. (2nd Year in a row)                                                                              

Best Young Performer was won by violinist Ruth Palmer who surprised since she had no record deal after finishing her studies at the Royal Academy and the Royal College of Music.

Italians have figured prominently in the Classical Brits Awards since inauguration in 2000.

2000;  Album of the Year - Andrea Bocelli - Sacred Arias

2002;  Female Artist of the Year - Cecilia Bartoli, and Outstanding Contribution to Music - Andrea Bocelli

2003;  Album of the Year - Andrea Bocelli- Sentimento , and Outstanding Contribution to Music - Cecilia Bartoli

2004;  Female Artist of the Year - Cecilia Bartoli

2006;  Composer Award - Dario Marenelli, and Critics Award - Antonio Pompano

 

Check out Nicola Benedetti's Web Site: http://www.nicolabenedetti.co.uk/

 

Album review

Nicola Benedetti

Mendelssohn, MacMillan, Mozart (Deutsche Grammophon) 

Time Out Chicago

 Issue 91: Nov 23-Nov 29, 2006

Marc Geelhoed

Any time a story about the rise of attractive classical musicians appears, Benedettis name shows up somewhere in it. But with her second major-label CD, filled with a mature lyricism beyond most players her age (19), its hard to argue that shes coasting on her looks.

Benedetti also has a questing streak when it comes to repertoire. Her debut disc rested on Szymanowskis rarely performed First Violin Concerto, and her new album includes Scottish holy minimalist James MacMillans From Ayrshire. (Ayrshire is Benedettis hometown.)

The seven-minute curtain raiser shows off Benedettis gracious lyricism as she slides around and through the slippery glissandos MacMillan tossed in. An overly abrupt ending stops the piece dead in its tracks, but thats not Benedettis fault.

She gives a streamlined account of Mendelssohns Violin Concerto that makes the most of her focused tone. Backing her up is the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields of chamber-orchestra proportions, which also keeps the interpretation from becoming bloated.

Anyone who still thinks its all about her looks should check out the four brief, unhurried works filling out the recording by Mozart and Schubert: Without falling into sentimentality, her flowing legato can be traced to the finest opera and lieder singers. MacMillan also leads the Academy, and proves an ideal collaborator as he follows Benedetti.

http://www.timeout.com/chicago/Details.do?page=

1&xyurl=xyl://TOCWebArticles2/91/music_classical/nicola_benedetti.xml

 

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