Nicola Benedetti’s first solo tour in over a decade performing at 14 venues across the UK and Ireland

12 October, Anvil Arts, Basingstoke

15 October, Caird Hall, Dundee

17 October, Easterbrook Hall, Dumfries

19 October, Music Hall, Aberdeen

21 October, Usher Hall, Edinburgh

24 October, Eden Court, Inverness

28 October, Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow

31 October, Ayr Town Hall, Ayr

19 November, Bridgewater Hall, Manchester

23 November, National Concert Hall, Dublin

27 November, Royal Albert Hall, London

29 November, Lighthouse, Poole

1 December, Ulster Hall, Belfast

4 December, The Royal Hall, Harrogate

Grammy-award winning violinist Nicola Benedetti has curated a personal and fun programme, as she embarks on her first solo tour of the UK and Ireland in over 10 years. Combining solo performances with storytelling, Nicola will share a selection of shorter works - romantic, virtuosic and some Celtic and folk-inspired. The approach to these concerts will be intimate and personal, with Nicola joined onstage by close colleagues including Brazilian guitarist Plínio Fernandes and accordionist Samuele Telari. This tour is presented by Askonas Holt.

 Repertoire will include Paganini’s Caprice Nos 1 and 24; Sarasate’s Carmen Fantasie and Navarra, and Wieniawki’s Polonaise arranged by Steve Goss; Ponce’s Estrellita and Maxwell-Davis’ Farewell to Stromness arranged by Paul Campbell; Bloch’s Prayer and Debussy’s Beau Soir arranged by Simon Parkin, Maria Teresa von Paradis’ Sicilienne arranged by Juliette Pochin and Jay Unger’s Ashokan Farewell;. This full programme will be released on Nicola Benedetti’s next album on Decca Classics to coincide with the tour and will also include new commissions and arrangements of traditional Scottish music by piper Brìghde Chaimbeul.

Nicola Benedetti commented, ‘It has been over ten years since my last full tour of the UK, and having recently come off maternity leave, I am particularly excited to perform in so many beautiful venues, reconnect with audiences I haven’t seen in some time, and play for and chat to people in a fun and personal setting. I will be joined by fantastic musicians including guitarist Plinio Fernandes and accordionist Samuele Telari.’

Nicola Benedetti is a GRAMMY Award winner (Best Classical Instrumental Solo, 2020), two-time winner of Best Female Artist at the Classical BRIT Awards, and in 2021 was recognised as BBC Music Magazine’s ‘Personality of the Year’ for her online support of young musicians during the pandemic. A long-time leader in music education, she established the Benedetti Foundation in 2019, delivering transformative experiences through mass music events. She was made an MBE in 2013, received the Queen’s Medal for Music in 2017, and was appointed a CBE two years later. Since October 2022, she has been the Festival Director of the Edinburgh International Festival, becoming the first woman – and first Scot – to ever hold the position.

Press Images available to download here. 

Tickets available directly from each venue. Full list here.