CD REVIEW -
VIOLIN CAFÉ
NICOLA BENEDETTI
Decca 2894871577
[56.44]
Born in Ayrshire,
Scotland, Nicola Joy Nadia
Benedetti CBE is recognised
world-wide as one of the finest
violinists of her time. For 22
years she has thrilled audiences
and listeners with her playing.
But this album is far removed
from great composers and big
orchestras. It is what the
illustrious soloist describes in
her 4½ pages of booklet notes as
"a gift for audiences I have
known and been supported
by", and involves only five
other musicians.
The album
comprises 11 largely lightish
classical works of short
duration. Benedetti is
accompanied on the majority of
tracks by Plínio Fernandes
(guitar), Samuele Telari
(accordion) and Thomas Carroll
(cello). Included are Peter
Maxwell Davies' popular Farewell
to Stromness, a brilliant
15-minute Pablo de Sarasate's Carmen
Fantasy arranged by Stephen
Goss, Manuel Ponce's Estrellita
and Beau Soir by a
16-year-old Claude Debussy.
Henryk
Wieniawski's opening Polonaise
de concert is probably
better known for its tune than
title. For a lively Sarasate's
Navarra, first learnt at age
12, Benedetti is joined by her
fellow violinist friend Yume
Fujise. Unsurprisingly, there are
three Traditional Scottish pieces
– Skye Boat Song, A'
Choille Grumbach and Hacky
Honey Reel – that
feature Brìghde Chaimbeul,
described as
"formidable", on
Scottish smallpipes. It would
have been nice to learn more
about all the excellent
instrumentalists.
Benedetti writes
that "we have discovered an
innocent sweetness in music and
sentiment I think we could all do
with a bit more of ... an
intimate listening space removed
from the chaos of the saturated
world." Amen to that –
it's a pleasure to hear. At under
an hour a bit short on quantity
but certainly not on quality. So,
who's for a coffee?
Incidentally, the
CD is housed in the slimmest
Digi-sleeve I have ever come
across.
©
Peter Burt, January 2026
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