Nigel Kennedy : Kennedy Live:Vivaldi Live A La Citade

DVD Released: 10/2006

Genre: Music [nf]

DVD Coded for Region: All

Screen Formats: Wide Screen

Subtitles: French, German, Spanish

Sound options: PCM Stereo, Dolby Digital 5.0

Studio: Emi Classics

Length: 90

Category: Performance

The eccentric yet brilliant post-classical musician Nigel Kennedy began his ascent to greatness somewhat conventionally (albeit prodigiously), with formal classical training on the violin at the tender age of five. He attended the Yehudi Menuhin school in England, and then Julliard, and officially debuted at age 21 in London with a now-infamous performance of Felix Mendelssohn 's Concerto in E Minor . But as Kennedy 's record sales - and concomitant popularity - climbed, so did his iconoclasm; he eschewed the widely-accepted, staid formality of classical performance and adopted a far more colorful image and brand of concert presentation, borrowed from punk. He also toyed with the classical form itself, appending jazzy improvisations to a number of his concertos, and altered his identity, changing his voice and mannerisms to mirror those of a Cockney Englishman. The concert film Nigel Kennedy: Live a la Citadelle sees the musician performing three works with symphonic accompaniment, before a live audience: Vivaldi 's Concerto for 2 violins in C Major RV50 , Vivaldi 's monstrous Four Seasons ( La primavera, Op8 no. 1, RV269 , L'estate, Op8 no. 2, RV315 , L'autonno, Op8 no. 3, RV293 , L'inverno, Op8 no. 4, RV297 ), and an encore performance of Jimi Hendrix 's 'Purple Haze.' ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide

After a 30-year wait Nigel finally gave his first classical concert in France in 2004; the astonishing impact of this one show created both the best-selling classical CD in France since 2000 & two number one records. With Kennedy still at number 1 & 2 in the charts he returned to embrace his French triumph on a summer night in 2005 for this concert. This live performance is set in the stunning location of La Citadelle in Carcassonne, France; and showcases Nigel's Vivaldi canon that he has become so famous for. Joined by the Polish Chamber Orchestra, Nigel plays Vivaldi's Four Seasons and duets with the leader of the PCO; Jakub Haufa on Vivaldi's Concerto for 2 violins in C Major. The DVD also features two excellent and very different encores; a take on Jimi Hendrix's 'Purple Haze' and a traditional celtic piece; that both highlight Kennedy's ability to interact with his audience.