Nigel Kennedy: Difference between revisions
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Kennedy has played a part in making [[european classical music|classical music]] popular, particularly among young people. He has also performed and recorded most of the major [[violin concerto|violin concerti]]. |
Kennedy has played a part in making [[european classical music|classical music]] popular, particularly among young people. He has also performed and recorded most of the major [[violin concerto|violin concerti]]. |
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He made his recording debut in 1984 with the [[Edward Elgar|Elgar]] [[Violin Concerto (Elgar)|Violin Concerto]], but most know Kennedy through his groundbreaking interpretation of [[Vivaldi]]'s ''"[[The Four Seasons (Vivaldi)|The Four Seasons]]"'' recorded in [[1989]], that became one of the best selling classical albums of all time.<ref name="CNN1">[http://edition.cnn.com/SHOWBIZ/Music/9908/23/wb.kennedy/ Not quite Vivaldi: Nigel Kennedy remembers Hendrix] CNN.com - August 23, 1999</ref> |
Aged 16, [[Stephan Grappelli]] invited the 16-year-old prodigy to appear alongside him at [[New York]]'s [[Carnegie Hall]], under the threat from his teachers at the Julliard that it would ruin his classical career.<ref name="GuardArt1">[http://arts.guardian.co.uk/features/story/0,,1882886,00.html 'If you need a pillock, call me'] Guardian Arts - September 29, 2006</ref> He made his recording debut in 1984 with the [[Edward Elgar|Elgar]] [[Violin Concerto (Elgar)|Violin Concerto]], but most know Kennedy through his groundbreaking interpretation of [[Vivaldi]]'s ''"[[The Four Seasons (Vivaldi)|The Four Seasons]]"'' recorded in [[1989]], that became one of the best selling classical albums of all time.<ref name="CNN1">[http://edition.cnn.com/SHOWBIZ/Music/9908/23/wb.kennedy/ Not quite Vivaldi: Nigel Kennedy remembers Hendrix] CNN.com - August 23, 1999</ref> |
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Kennedy was attacked for his approach to classical music by [[John Drummond (arts administrator)|John Drummond]] in 1991.<ref>http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4153/is_20020926/ai_n12015106</ref> Many respected musicians though, hold him in high esteem. With one of these, [[cellist]] [[Lynn Harrell]], he has recorded an album of duets. He has recently been exploring Polish music with the Polish jazz band [[Kroke]]. |
Kennedy was attacked for his approach to classical music by [[John Drummond (arts administrator)|John Drummond]] in 1991.<ref>http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4153/is_20020926/ai_n12015106</ref> Many respected musicians though, hold him in high esteem. With one of these, [[cellist]] [[Lynn Harrell]], he has recorded an album of duets. He has recently been exploring Polish music with the Polish jazz band [[Kroke]]. |
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===Personal life=== |
===Personal life=== |
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When not touring, Kennedy divides his time between residences in [[Malvern, Worcestershire]] (where his ex-wife and son live), and [[Kraków]] where he lives with his [[Poland|Polish]] second wife, Agnieska.<ref |
When not touring, Kennedy divides his time between residences in [[Malvern, Worcestershire]] (where his ex-wife and son live), and [[Kraków]] where he lives with his [[Poland|Polish]] second wife, Agnieska.<ref name="GuardArt1"/> |
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Away from his musical career, Kennedy is a supporter of [[English Premiership]] football club [[Aston Villa]] (in whos colours he once painted his [[Rolls Royce]]),<ref name="CNN1"/> and [[Cracovia]], in whos 100th anniversary in club replica kit he appeared. |
Away from his musical career, Kennedy is a supporter of [[English Premiership]] football club [[Aston Villa]] (in whos colours he once painted his [[Rolls Royce]]),<ref name="CNN1"/> and [[Cracovia]], in whos 100th anniversary in club replica kit he appeared. |
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Revision as of 23:44, 5 December 2007
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (July 2007) |
Nigel Kennedy (born December 28, 1956 in Brighton, England) is a violinist and violist.
Biography
A boy prodigy, Kennedy was a pupil at the Yehudi Menuhin School, under Yehudi Menuhin himself, and later at the Juilliard School in New York under Dorothy DeLay.
Career
Kennedy has played a part in making classical music popular, particularly among young people. He has also performed and recorded most of the major violin concerti.
Aged 16, Stephan Grappelli invited the 16-year-old prodigy to appear alongside him at New York's Carnegie Hall, under the threat from his teachers at the Julliard that it would ruin his classical career.[1] He made his recording debut in 1984 with the Elgar Violin Concerto, but most know Kennedy through his groundbreaking interpretation of Vivaldi's "The Four Seasons" recorded in 1989, that became one of the best selling classical albums of all time.[2]
Kennedy was attacked for his approach to classical music by John Drummond in 1991.[3] Many respected musicians though, hold him in high esteem. With one of these, cellist Lynn Harrell, he has recorded an album of duets. He has recently been exploring Polish music with the Polish jazz band Kroke.
Kennedy expresses concern[This quote needs a citation] for the immediate appeal of live performance, and often records entire works or movements in single 'takes' to preserve this sense in his recordings. He also introduces improvisatory elements in his performances, as in his Jimi Hendrix-inspired cadenza to the Beethoven violin concerto and his jazz and fusion recordings.
In 1999 Sony Classical released a recording entitled The Kennedy Experience, which featured improvisational recordings of Jimi Hendrix compositions. According to a BBC interview with Kennedy, the violinist stated that this recording is "an album of music inspired by Jimi Hendrix. It is an extended instrumental work in six movements - each movement a classical interpretation of a Hendrix song."[4] On the recording, Kennedy is accompanied by seven other musicians, and the lineup includes two cellos, an oboe, two guitars, a dobro, flute, and double bass.
On November 27, 2000, Kennedy joined rock group The Who at the Royal Albert Hall to play the violin solo on the classic song Baba O'Riley. The recording can be found on the album Live at the Royal Albert Hall, which was released three years later. Kennedy has played on several tracks by British singer/songwriter Kate Bush, who was a guest on Kennedy's episode of This Is Your Life.
He has also recorded The Doors Concerto (with Jaz Coleman), a violin based orchestral version of many Doors songs, including Strange Days, LA Woman, The End, and Riders On The Storm.
Image
Kennedy's carefully maintained loutish persona is seen by some as abrasive and limiting to his career, citing as an example his use of a 'mockney' accent instead of the received pronunciation he had when he was interviewed as a child in 1964 on the BBC's Town and Around.
Personal life
When not touring, Kennedy divides his time between residences in Malvern, Worcestershire (where his ex-wife and son live), and Kraków where he lives with his Polish second wife, Agnieska.[1]
Away from his musical career, Kennedy is a supporter of English Premiership football club Aston Villa (in whos colours he once painted his Rolls Royce),[2] and Cracovia, in whos 100th anniversary in club replica kit he appeared.
On 24 October 2006, Kennedy broke his arm in a cycling accident, confirmed this in an interview on BBC Radio 3 on 20 April 2007.[5]
Discography
| Year | Album | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | (as Kennedy) |
| The Doors Concerto | (as Kennedy) | |
| Duos for Violin & Cello | (as Kennedy) | |
| 1999 | Classic Kennedy | (as Kennedy) |
| 1999 | The Kennedy Experience | (as Kennedy) |
| 1998 | Kreisler | (as Kennedy) |
| 1997 | Elgar & Vaughan Williams | (as Kennedy) |
| 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 |
Instruments
Nigel Kennedy has owned or used violins by:
- Guarneri del Gesu, 'La Fonte' c.1735;
- Stradivari;
- Scott Cao;
- Johannes Finkel bow
- Violectra electric violin
References
- ^ a b 'If you need a pillock, call me' Guardian Arts - September 29, 2006
- ^ a b Not quite Vivaldi: Nigel Kennedy remembers Hendrix CNN.com - August 23, 1999
- ^ http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4153/is_20020926/ai_n12015106
- ^ Interview with Nigel Kennedy on his album of Jimi Hendrix compositions from the BBC News website
- ^ http://www.musicalamerica.com/news/newsstory.cfm?archived=0&storyid=14824&categoryid=2&cookies=1 (registration required)
External links
- Kennedy's discography at EMI Classics
- The Kennedy Experience at Sony Classical
- Another String (nigelkennedy.com), an unofficial fansite