Unanimous praise for Nicola Benedetti's World Premiere of James MacMillan Violin Concerto No. 2
On September 28, 2022, Nicola Benedetti premieres James MacMillan's Violin Concerto No. 2 in Perth with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra under the baton of Maxim Emelyanychev
Rave reviews have been pouring in from media outlets praising Nicola Benedetti’s World Premiere performance of James MacMillan’s Violin Concerto No. 2.
Nicola Benedetti does James MacMillan’s new work proud, plus the best of September’s classical concerts
By Arwa Haider, John Allison, Ivan Hewett, David Kettle
The Telegraph
September 29, 2022
“Benedetti responded with rich, sometimes eloquently raw playing, lithe and agile when needed, but also fiercely focused – nowhere more so than in her rasping contributions to the Concerto’s bitter, aggressive march material that had more than a hint of Shostakovich-style sarcasm. A series of brief, increasingly Britten-like duets with individual SCO players guided the Concerto back towards its poignant lyricism, and took it to the surprisingly unadorned, luminous clarity of its final, major triad.”
Scottish Chamber Orchestra/ Emelyanychev review — this was the birth of a masterpiece
By Simon Thompson
The Times
September 30, 2022
“Nicola Benedetti, the concerto’s dedicatee, gave the solo part a consoling richness, shining out of the loneliness and, towards the end, duetting with several orchestral soloists like a developing conversation. She was as expressive in the music’s glimmering pianissimos as in its episodes of wrenching passion.“
Nicola Benedetti triumphs in world premiere of the Second Violin Concerto by Sir James MacMillan
By Keith Bruce
The Herald
September 29, 2022
“Benedetti’s solo part largely sat apart from the orchestration, and has clearly been written with her playing style specifically in mind – her performances of the Bruch and Brahms concertos find echoes in the virtuosic music MacMillan has written for her.“
SCO/Emelyanychev/Benedetti review – MacMillan’s violin concerto discomfits and intrigues
By Rowena Smith
The Guardian
September 30, 2022
“The concerto received a committed and accomplished performance from Benedetti, whose playing combines soaring lyrical sweetness with muscular confidence.”
Music review: SCO & Nicola Benedetti, Perth Concert Hall
By Ken Walton
The Scotsman
September 29, 2022
“Benedetti’s performance was often impressive, spurred on by intermittent sparks of inspiration, but not, in this first airing, offering a wholly convincing argument for the piece’s overarching cohesion.”