Nigel Kennedy
Biography
Brighton-born Nigel Kennedy was a pupil at the Yehudi Menuhin School, tutored by the legendary Menuhin himself, and later at the Juilliard School under Dorothy DeLay. His unique talent and improvisational technique has done much to popularise classical music, particularly among young people.
Kennedy's career has taken him across four continents, performing with the world’s major orchestras and conductors and appearing at the most important classical festivals in Europe and the United States.
Major debuts include his 1977 London Royal Festival Hall performance of Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto, with the Philharmonic under Riccardo Muti , his debut with the Berlin Philharmonic in 1980 and his New York orchestral debut in 1987.
When not touring, he divides his time between residences in Malvern, Worcestershire and Kraków, Poland with his wife and daughter. Kennedy is a supporter of the football club Aston Villa.
Music
Signed to EMI Classics, Nigel Kennedy's multi-award-winning discography is extensive. He has made two highly-acclaimed recordings of Elgar’s Violin Concerto; the first, with the London Philharmonic and Vernon Handley, achieved gold disc status, was voted 1985 Record of the Year by Gramophone magazine and was awarded Best Classical Album of the Year at the BPI Awards, selling in excess of 300,000 copies.
His recordings of the Brahms and Beethoven violin concertos have each sold over 100,000 copies and his landmark recording of Vivaldi's 'Four Seasons' earned a place in the Guinness Book of Records as the best-selling classical work of all time.
Kennedy is notorious for the improvisatory elements in his performances, especially in his jazz and fusion recordings. He has recently been performing with Polish jazz band Kroke.
Nigel Kennedy on Classic FM
Listen to Nigel Kennedy talking to Classic FM in April 2008.
Discography
2009 - Four Seasons - 20th Anniversary Edition
2008 - A Very Nice Album (Melody & Invention)
2008 - Beethoven & Mozart Violin Concertos
2007 - Polish Spirit
The Platinum Collection (3 CDs)
2006 - The Bluenote Sessions
Kennedy, Live at La Citadelle (DVD)
Inner Thoughts
Nigel Kennedy Plays Bach
2005 - Legend: Beethoven and Bruch (CD+DVD)
2004 - Vivaldi II
2003 - Vivaldi
East Meets East (with Kroke)
2002 - Greatest Hits
2000 - Kennedy Plays Bach
The Doors Concerto
Duos for Violin & Cello
1999 - Classic Kennedy
The Kennedy Experience
1998 - Kreisler
1997 - Elgar & Vaughan Williams
1996 - Kafka
1993 - Tchaikovsky
1992 - Beethoven: Violin Concerto
Sibelius: Violin Concerto / Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto
1991 - Brahms: Violin Concerto in D, Op. 77
1989 - Vivaldi: The Four Seasons
1988 - Sibelius: Violin Concerto / Symphony No. 5
Bruch, Schubert & Mendelssohn
1987 - Let Loose
Walton: Viola Concerto
1986 - Bartók & Duke Ellington
Tchaikovsky & Chausson
1984 - Elgar: Violin Concerto in B minor, Op. 61
Salut d'Amour & Other Elgar Favourites
Nigel Kennedy Plays Jazz
The Classic FM Interview - Nigel Kennedy
Listen again in full to the legendary violinist in conversation with Nick Ferrari
