"Another July Treat: The Four Seasons Played On A Stradivarius Violin"

I'm about to GUSH. That's the Only Thing For It.



One recent Sunday, I read for the first time of talented 22year old violinist Nicola Benedetti.

In August she appears at the BBC Proms performing Vaughan Williams' " The Lark Ascending"....and her already illustrious career is set to ascend the greatest of heights.

SO in Chester Cathedral the other Friday, it was a treat to see the darkly beautiful Benedetti, with the European Union Chamber Orchestra ... ( plus Sir Andrew Motion, reading his poems in deep-velvet tones)...perform Antonio Vivaldi's "The Four Seasons".

Clearly of Italian heritage ( but born in Scotland) Benedetti enthralled. It wouldn't be exagerating to say enraptured...or even that we were captivated. Because we WERE...I imagine every one of us.

And ( added thrill!) Benedetti played on the Earl Spencer Stradivarius ( c 1792)...thus bringing Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter deep into our hearts...where I guess her magic will delight many of her audience always.