UBS Soundscapes: Eclectica From Ayrshire with Nicola Benedetti

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Thursday 2 July 2009, 8pm, LSO St Luke’s part of the City of London Festival

James MacMillan conducts Nicola Benedetti in a performance of his new composition From Ayrshire with music from the North; Isle of Staffa, Isle of Iona, Orkney and Norway

The UBS Soundscapes: Eclectica series brings to audiences an appealing mixture of international musicians presenting the widest range of musical styles, in the unique ambience of LSO St Luke's, a converted Hawksmoor church in the heart of the city. Featured artists have included Sting, Anoushka Shankar, Roby Lakatos and Lang Lang.

Nicola Benedetti was titled BBC Young Musician of the Year in 2004 and since then the young Scottish violinist has enjoyed great success, signing a recording contract with Universal/Deutsche Grammophon and having recently been awarded a Classical BRIT for Young British Classical Performer. She has already performed with an array of world-class orchestras including the London Philharmonic, Philharmonia, BBC Philharmonic, Tonhalle, and the Vienna Tonkunstler. Nicola has captivated audiences and critics with her performances. The Independent said how she “has the gift of communication in spades; an ability to make the music seem larger than life by sheer eagerness of musical personality”.

James MacMillan is widely regarded as the pre-eminent Scottish composer of his generation and in celebration of his 50th birthday, he will be the 2009/10 LSO Artist in Focus. Throughout the season, James MacMillan’s Trumpet Concerto Epiclesis written in 1993 will be performed, there will be the chance to once more hear the St John Passion – which received its world premiere with the LSO in April 2008, and the world premiere of MacMillan’s Violin Concerto will be performed by Vadim Repin in May 2010. As well as being one of the most successful living composers, MacMillan is also internationally active as a conductor.

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