Nicola Benedetti and the Benedetti Baroque Orchestra to host live concerts at Battersea Arts Centre for Christmas
Live hour-long performances for a socially distanced audiences including many season baroque favourites
Last updated 8th Dec 2020
Violinist Nicola Benedetti announced today a special series of live performance events for a socially-distanced audience, to be staged at Battersea Arts Centre in London from 20-23 December 2020.
The concerts will feature a range of seasonal favourites for Baroque orchestra including music by Vivaldi, Corelli, Tickets go on sale today, 8th December. Tickets include various festive treats to get audience members in the mood.
Undeterred by the COVID pandemic, Nicola Benedetti has had a busy year in 2020. her Benedetti Sessions have shifted online and provided a thousands of young musicians the opportunity to continue their music-making encouraged, tutored and supported by the Benedetti Foundation workshop leaders.
The Benedetti Sessions concluded with a special virtual mashup featuring one folk tune passed around the world between friends of the international musician.
She's also released a new album of music by Elgar including a critically-acclaimed recording of Elgar's violin concerto, adding to a rich back catalogue of album releases including last year's Decca release of Wynton Marsalis' Violin Concerto and Fiddle Dance Suite.
When are the Benedetti Baroque Orchestra concerts at Battersea Arts Centre?
The hour-long concerts will be staged from Sunday 20 to Wednesday 23 December at three different time slots. Times differ from day to day.
Sunday 20 December at 15:00, 18:00 & 20:30
Monday 21 December at 15:00, 18:00 & 20:30
Tuesday 22 December at 18:00 & 20:30
Wednesday 23 December at 15:00 & 18:00
To buy tickets visit the Battersea Arts Centre website. Tickets will go on sale on Tuesday 8 December and are available online at bac.org.uk.
Tickets priced at £40 & £50 which includes a glass of red wine/prosecco/sparkling water & mince pies.
15% discount for unemployed, those claiming Jobseeker's Allowance, disabled + accompanying carer and children aged 16 & under. For further information on COVID-secure measures please visit bac.org.uk
Who is Nicola Benedetti?
Nicola Benedetti plays Karol Szymanowski’s Violin Concerto No. 1, Op. 35 in the final of the BBC Young Musician of the Year in 2004
Nicola Benedetti started to learn the violin at the age of four. At eight years old she led the National Childrens Orchestra of Great Britain, and began studying at the Yehudi Menuhin School in Surrey. When Yehudi Menuhin died, she played in a memorial concert for the world renowned musician in 1998.
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 Benedetti receiving her CBE in 2019
Nicola Benedetti has received two Honours during her career. The first, an MBE in 2013, and the second - a CBE - in 2019. She is the youngest person to have received a CBE since the Honour was established in 2005.
Nicola has performed as a soloist with many of the world's leading orchestras including th London Symphony Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, Orchestra of the Mariinsky Theatre, Leipzig Gewandhausorchester, Danish National Symphony Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony, and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
Nicola Benedetti at a Benedetti Session in 2020
Nicola is a passionate ambassador and leader in music education, providing much needed tutoring and mentoring to thousands of young people through workshops, masterclasses, and school visits, as well as focused, high quality teaching and guidance. Nicola has also connected with teachers, aiming to support their practice, highlight their essential role in society - especially during a period when many jobs have been under threat – and encourage collaboration and mutual learning.
Nicola Benedetti's Sessions
Nicola Benedetti's spirit and determination to inspire as many children and young people in participatory music-making has lauded her much acclaim in the music education world. Despite the COVID pandemic having a devastating effect on teaching practice the world over, the Benedetti Foundation quickly shifted their activities online bringing the same passion and joy to virtual learning experiences as was experienced in real life.