Scottish violinist Nicola Benedetti is resident artist at this year’s International Festival. As a performer, educator and musical pioneer, she has made a huge, positive impact on the classical world internationally. Across three concerts, she showcases contrasting sides to her wide-ranging musical personality.

The clean harmonies, catchy rhythms and captivating decorations of Baroque music have long played a crucial role in Benedetti’s music making – and her championing of little-known violin works from that period has encouraged many listeners to rediscover a remarkable repertoire that had long remained little-known.

For her first International Festival concert this year, she is joined by the Benedetti Baroque Orchestra of specially selected period-instrument players in a concert revealing the multifaceted musical creations of Vivaldi. Though he’s best known for the vivid musical picture painting of The Four Seasons, there’s still plenty to discover and rediscover among the composer’s more than 500 concertos.

La Folia is Vivaldi’s own entrancing response to a catchy hit tune known by everyone during his lifetime. Benedetti contrasts this resolute concerto with the energetic confidence of the Concerto in D major, RV 211, the stately ceremony of the Concerto in E flat, RV 257, and the lavish, large-scale outpouring of melancholy in the B minor Concerto, RV 386.

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