A young violinist matures into Mendelssohn

At the time she released her first recording in 2005, Scottish violinist Nicola Benedetti was still glowing after being named the BBC's 2004 Young Musician of the Year at age 16. Her debut recording gained attention right away, especially because this talented, award-winning teenager took a path less traveled. On that disc, she performed a little-known concerto by Polish composer Karol Szymanowski, the same work she performed to earn the BBC prize.

For her second recording, she continues to set herself apart by exploring new ground with a piece composed especially for her by fellow Scot James MacMillan. MacMillan also conducts the Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields on this new release. In the other featured work on the CD, Benedetti jumps feet first into the mainstream with Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto in E minor.

As she flies from one concert to another, soaring toward classical stardom, Benedetti has been confronted by her share of critics and reviewers questioning whether she's being allowed to mature as a musician. "With my violin," she answers, "I try to strike the balance between not feeling I know it all, but at the same time having the confidence and belief in my own musical thoughts and ideas and ability."

She approaches the Mendelssohn concerto with the same modesty. While she says "it is unquestionably a perfect piece of music, a masterwork, and one of the best concertos ever written," she believes the music has some kind of natural naivete.

Since Mendelssohn was still quite young when he wrote this work, Benedetti feels her youth gives her a unique advantage. She's also the first to admit she has a lot more to learn, and hopes to record this concerto again later in her career.

With that said, Benedetti's first take on Mendelssohn's famous concerto is certainly one worth noting. Mendelssohn wrote this work for violin virtuoso Ferdinand David, who requested a brilliant concert piece. Mendelssohn delivers right away in the first movement as the solo violin proclaims the passionate melody in a soaring line. Benedetti never hesitates. Her violin enters softly, yet with great intensity. For me the true test is the slow movement, which follows the opening allegro without a pause. The violin solo is so simple, and expressed with such great feeling, that its character has a sacred quality. Benedetti approaches this reverent melody carefully, yet confidently, adding to its emotional impact.

There are several shorter works on this new release, including Franz Schubert's "Ave Maria," which has been a staple of the violin recital repertoire. In this arrangement, which was edited by Jascha Heifetz, Skaila Kanga provides a delicate harp accompaniment that leaves the violin completely exposed. Nicola Benedetti gently sweeps through double and triple stops, conjuring up gorgeous harmonies.

The closing piece, titled "From Ayrshire," is named for the area in Scotland where Benedetti and composer/conductor James MacMillan were born and raised. While MacMillan's ear for orchestration is incredible, Benedetti says he's actually writing for the violin and the effects that instrument can create. She takes full advantage of those effects, pushing and pulling at the high notes, which create a mysterious quality in the first section. There are times when the piece sounds like an eerie version of "The Lark Ascending" by Ralph Vaughan Williams.

On her second release, Nicola Benedetti continues to intrigue the listener with a world-premiere recording, while at the same time demonstrating her ability to handle one of the great classical standards. She may be only 18 years old, but her level of talent and her choice of repertoire bolster the impression that she is a young star on the rise.

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