Phonographic memory! How Nicola carries 20 concertos in her head
SHE is know for her virtuoso violin skills.
But Nicola Benedetti, it seems, also has a world-class memory.
For the Scot has memorised every single note of around 20 concertos.
The 31-year old performs full pieces live – often lasting 40 minutes or more – in the world’s most prestigious venues without so much as a glance at sheet music.
Ahead of a Queen’s Hall concert at the Edinburgh Festival yesterday, Miss Benedetti said: ‘Most violin soloists perform the majority of their concerts from memory. It’s part of the spectacle of playing the virtuoso solo part that you’re doing something kind of magical.
‘The number of hours it takes depends on the complexity of the work. When I’m learning a piece, I will play all day long until it’s done.’
Asked how many complete works she has stored note-perfect in her brain, she said: ‘I would say only about 15 or 20 concertos.
‘I had a wobbly period when I had one memory slip on stage 12 years ago. Nobody would have even known, but the smallest thing can feel like the Earth has swallowed you up when you’re on stage. That was a difficult moment I had to work my way out of, which took a while.’
But Miss Benedetti has also had other difficulties to deal with while performing. She said: ‘Several times a heel has got caught.
‘My dress ripped before I went on stage once, and another time, when I was 15, half my dress fell down while I was playing.’
Miss Benedetti revealed earlier this year to the BBC that Symphony No 7 by Jean Sibelius is her favourite piece of music.