Nigel Kennedy is a violin virtuoso who has been recognized for more than 25 years and is undoubtedly one of Britain’s most influential violinists. His unique talent, virtuoso technique and mass appeal have given new perspectives to both classical and contemporary music. He is the most popular classical violinist. He was Yehudi Menuhin’s most beloved protege from a young age. He studied first at the Menuhin School, then moved to the Juilliard School of Music to study with Dorothy DeLay, the renowned teacher. Nigel Kennedy has been on numerous international tours throughout his career. He performed with some of the most prestigious orchestras and conductors in Europe, North America and South America. His extraordinary career has seen him attract a lot of media attention around the world. His international television appearances are varied and have attracted a lot of international media attention. He has performed for the British royal family in public and private performances. He has been awarded many awards, including Outstanding Contribution to British Music, Male Artist of The Year at the UK Brit Awards, and numerous Echo Awards. In France, he received a Vivement Dimanche Gold Award and several Echo Awards. The extensive discography of Nigel Kennedy, multi-award winning discographer is impressive. Elgar’s Violin Concerto was his first critically acclaimed recording. It was also voted Gramophone Record of the year 1985 and won the Best Classical Album award at the BPI Awards. His landmark recording of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons was voted the best-selling classical work of the century by the Guinness Book of Records. The album sold more than 2 million copies, and remained at the top of the UK classical charts almost for two years. The prestigious German Echo Award was won by the Berliner Philharmoniker for the Best Performance of 18th Century Music, and The Amadeus Prize for the Austrian Classical Award for the Best Instrumental Recording. Along with chamber music and recital discs, he has made the best-selling concerto recordings for Bach, Beethoven and Mendelssohn. Blue Note Sessions was the result of his passion for jazz. Jay Newland produced it and featured a group of jazz greats like Ron Carter, Jack DeJohnette, and others. Kennedy was named Artistic Director of The Polish Chamber Orchestra in September 2002. This position was previously held by Lord Menuhin. He discovered a beautiful and undiscovered late Romantic Polish concerto, Emil Mlynarski’s Violin Concerto No 2. and combined it with Mieczyslaw Klowicz’s Violin Concerto A major. This was released as ‘Polish Spirit’ in 2007. The prestigious Echo Klassik Award (Instrumentalist) in Germany and the Fryderyki Album Award in Poland have won numerous awards for ‘Polish Spirit. Kennedy’s 2009 album, A Very Nice Album (named in a very unique way), was a bold venture into non-classical music. It was recorded with his band, The Nigel Kennedy Quintet, which is made up of the violinist as well as four of the most exciting musicians on the Polish jazz scene. Bluenote was his first album. It focused on the interpretation of jazz compositions by past jazz masters. But for A Very Nice Album Kennedy was both a composer and improviser. The latest Nigel Kennedy Quintet album of mostly original Kennedy compositions was released in 2010. It was entitled SHHH! Kennedy’s arrangement for Nick Drake’s Riverman is sung by Boy George. A new orchestra was founded by the violinist, which is mainly composed of young Polish musicians. The Orchestra of Life’s debut tour to Germany was in April 2010. It presented a special programme of Duke Ellington, which Nigel Kennedy arranged for his band and the Orchestra of Life. After that, it performed in major European cities and festivals. Kennedy presented a project inspired in part by Jimi Hendrix’s music. A performance at Ronnie Scotts, the last venue Hendrix played at, was a success on the 40th anniversary. Kennedy’s UK performances in 2010 of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons were a huge success. This included a sold-out show at London’s Royal Albert Hall. Nigel Kennedy embarked on a major 2011 tour performing his thrilling and original take on Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, as well as his brand new composition, The Four Elements. He presented Bach and Fats Waller in Asia in February 2012. A completely acoustic program designed for venues with natural acoustics. The first half is composed of solo Bach pieces. Kennedy has arranged Fats Waller’s music for guitar, bass, violin and percussion. Nigel Kennedy records for Sony Classical. The Four Elements was released by Sony Classical. Kennedy, referring to the Bach and Fats Waller program, recorded portions of the repertoire under the title Recital. Sony Classical released The Four Elements in March 2013. Nigel Kennedy is an avid Aston Villa fan. He attends as many games and as often as possible. He is married to Agnieszka, a Polish lawyer. They split their time between the UK and Poland. Nigel Kennedy also plays several custom 5 string electric violins and a 1732 instrument made by Carlo Bergonzi, Cremona’s great violin maker. from www.nigel-kennedy.net
