Nicola Zitara

One word unites the works on this album, and that word is 'ethereal'. The soundworld of English composer Sir John Tavener is often described as 'ethereal'; possessing an other-worldly, spiritual quality that strikes deep into the soul. And Ralph Vaughan Williams's aural portrait of that blithe little lark as it spirals up into the heavens is indeed an ethereal vision.

Nicola Benedetti joins that small group of violinists who have given us really special recordings of Elgar’s concerto. Accompanied by an orchestra with this music flowing in its veins—it played for Nigel Kennedy’s now-classic version— and a conductor whose attention to the score’s myriad details never stands in the way of the work’s vast panoramas, Benedetti rises magnificently to the challenge. She achieves moments of great inwardness when needed, but sings out like a lark when the music demands it. It’s a very considerable achievement, and shows what a superb, mature musician she has blossomed into. Delightful encores too!

By any reckoning this is a most impressive debut recording. Nicola Benedetti, since becoming BBC Young Artist of the Year last May, has won a major contract with DG. Born in Scotland of Italian stock, she studied at the Menuhin School before deciding at 15— against advice — to study on her own and then with a new teacher, Maciej Rakowski. Her firmness has certainly paid off. At 17 she displays in each of these items the temperament, concentration and imagination of a great artist in the making, quite apart from her virtuoso technique. The centrepiece is the Szymanowski First Violin Concerto, the work she played in the final of the BBC competition, and the passion of her performance is remarkable, even suggesting a parallel with the young du Pre. Daniel Harding draws intense playing from the LSO and the impact of the performance is heightened by the relatively close balance of soloist and orchestra, hitting home very hard in the exotic climaxes.

The nation’s favourite violinist, Nicola Benedetti, celebrates a huge year for Scotland with an album of its most famous and best loved music, featuring songs such as Loch Lomond, My Love is Like a Red Red Rose and more. The album also includes collaborations with leading Scottish folk musicians including well-known folk singer Julie Fowlis whose voice can be heard on the Disney/Pixar hit film, Brave, along with Bruch’s much loved Scottish Fantasy.