Top praise for Benedetti’s North American recital tour

Nicola Benedetti (Photo Credit: Simon Fowler)

Nicola Benedetti just completed a highly successful five city North American tour that took her and pianist Alexei Grynyuk to New York, St. Paul, Berkeley, Toronto, and Santa Fe. They performed works by Bach, Prokofiev and Strauss, and Nicola premiered Wynton Marsalis’s “Fiddle Dance Suite for Solo Violin” at New York’s 92nd Street Y. The duo has received top praise from audience members and critics alike!

Rob Hubbard from the Twin Cities Pioneer Press wrote, “The result was an extraordinarily satisfying concert that went in four distinctly different directions, stylistically. Not only did Benedetti show off her versatility, she demonstrated that she might just be brilliant with whatever repertoire she touches.”

James Roy MacBean from the Berkeley Daily Planet said, “I don’t think I have ever heard a richer, more sumptuous lower register tone from any other contemporary violinist, and that includes my highly regarded Bach interpreter Hilary Hahn. Nicola Benedetti not only has the technical chops to give a riveting performance of Bach’s famous Chaconne, but she also enveloped this outerstellar music in the richest, most luxuriant tone!”

Terry Blain from the The Star Tribune praised more than just her playing with “Benedetti is much more than just a star player, known for her charisma and ability to reach beyond the core classical audience. She’s also a tireless proselytizer and teacher, constantly leading workshops and master classes or initiating school visits in the United Kingdom and beyond. Last year alone, she reached more than 2,000 young people and 500 teachers through a combination of these efforts.”

Check out this 92nd Street Y promo video: