Nigel Kennedy: Virtuoso

Nigel Kennedy brings his singular take on the violin to Scarborough. Trained at the Yehudi Menuhin School and later at Juilliard with Dorothy DeLay, he first made his mark in the classical world, from the Elgar Violin Concerto to a widely noted Four Seasons with the English Chamber Orchestra. He then opened the repertoire wide, drawing lines to other scenes: Hendrix-inspired explorations on The Kennedy Experience, an orchestral journey into The Doors with Jaz Coleman, East Meets East with the Polish group Kroke, and a foray into jazz on The Blue Note Sessions. Also linked with the Polish Chamber Orchestra and founder of Orchestra of Life, he moves comfortably between written score and improvisation.

For this Virtuoso date, expect a program shaped by that breadth: baroque clarity meeting improvised detours, echoes of folk and rock textures, and an ear for timbre that keeps the music close-up and human. Nigel Kennedy plays at Scarborough Spa, Scarborough, on 16 May 2026.