Nigel Kennedy UK tour dates

Following the staggering success of his UK performances of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons in 2010, including a stunning, sold out show at London’s Royal Albert Hall, Nigel Kennedy has announced that he will be returning to the UK this September for an extensive tour of the UK, again performing his exhilarating and unique take on Vivaldi’s Four Seasons as well as his own brand new composition, the Four Elements.

This marks the world premiere of the Four Elements. Composed for the Orchestra of Life and voices, the Four Elements is a highly descriptive composition, inspired by the elements of earth, water, air and fire, which takes the listener on a journey of exhilaration, contemplation and celebration.

For over twenty-five years, Nigel Kennedy has been acknowledged as one of the world’s leading violin virtuosos and is, without doubt, one of the most important violinists Britain has ever produced. His virtuoso technique, unique talent and mass appeal have brought fresh perspectives to both the classical and contemporary repertoire. He is the best selling classical violinist of all time.

To this day, Kennedy refuses to play by any one set of rules. Over the past decade, as well as recording Bach, Vivaldi, Mozart, Beethoven Mlynarski and Karlowicz, he has laid his personal instrumental stamp on the songs of Jimi Hendrix, the Doors and Kate Bush; performed the violin intro to Baba O’Riley on stage with the Who; invited Jeff Beck onto the Prom stage with the NKQ; explored traditional klezmer music with the Polish band, Kroke, and dug deep into the roots of modern jazz on the Blue Note Sessions, an album he recorded in NYC in 2006 with legends Ron Carter and Jack DeJohnette.

Following his earlier excursion into the self-penned tracks of the Nigel Kennedy Quintet’s Very Nice Album, Kennedy’s latest album, Shhh!, confirms the maverick status and omnivorous musical taste of one of Britain’s finest and most unpredictable musicians. ‘ am a natural improviser. I can’t just always stand up and follow a score,’ says Kennedy, the virtuoso violinist who has been ploughing his own furrow ever since as a 16 year old student he joined the jazz violinist Stephane Grappelli on stage at the Carnegie Hall ‘ to the alarm of his classical teachers at the Juilliard School. Shhh! Was recorded at one of rock’s fabled residential country studios, Rockfield, in South Wales with the NKQ, which is made up of the finest jazz musicians Poland has to offer: Tomasz Grzegorski (tenor sax, soprano sax & bass clarinet); Piotr Wylezol (piano & Hammond); Adam “Szabas” Kowalewski (contrabass & electric bass) and Krzysztof Dziedzic (drums).

Now dividing his time between homes in London and Krakow, where he lives with his Polish-born wife of 10 years, Agnieszka, Kennedy has never felt more free to pursue his boundary-free musical objectives. ”m enjoying my music much more than ever as I’m playing exactly what I want – it’s become a deeper experience and enjoyment for me, savouring the moment more, not thinking about the future or the past but thinking about now.’

Nigel says “I couldn’t be happier to be bringing my new orchestra back to the UK for these dates with the Four Seasons and my new work – they are brilliant young players at the top of their form.”

September 2011

Sunday 11 Oxford New Theatre
Monday 12 Cardiff St David’s Hall
Wednesday 14 Bristol Colston Hall
Thursday 15 Brighton Dome
Saturday 17 London Barbican
Monday 19 Glasgow Clyde
Tuesday 20 Newcastle City Hall
Thursday 22 Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
Friday 23 Nottingham Royal Concert Hall