From Elgar to The Doors: Exploring Violinist Nigel Kennedy’s Best Recordings

[@barrystagg5479]

Thank you Phil and Sue. It's always a real joy and pleasure to watch your videos. Would like to wish you a happy Christmas and a great 2025. Thanks again.

[@sueastonmusic]

Thank you! Merry Christmas! 🥰

[@stuartwaby3081]

Hello Sue and Phil of course, this txt is particularly aimed at Sue and her very articulate views of Nigel Kennedy's recordings, i have a few of his too including The Four Seasons and the Elgar Violin Concerto which we know you are so fond of, however my reasons for getting this disc was for VW's The Lark Ascending which IMHO is the best version i have heard, and i have quite a few VW being one of my favourite composer's, from that era of English composer's, VW and Holst stand head and shoulders above Elgar ,i suspect my opinion of this is a minority one but there it is. Your knowledge of Orchestral Music Sue is clearly superior to my own and it's been interesting to hear your comments. Thank You for taking the time to share with us your invaluable knowledge 😊

[@jonathanpearman1052]

Did enjoy that! Currently listening to the Doors Concerto, which I'd never heard of before, so thanks for that. In Sweden we've had a string quartet called Fläskkvartetten (Flesh Quartet) who are very influenced by symphonic music and rock music. They've played with a large number of big name Swedish rock musicians. Well worth a listen.Thanks and a God Jul to you both as we say over here!

[@sueastonmusic]

Thanks so much and I’ll check out the string quartet, sounds great! 🥰

[@shaunblackman5299]

Wow. Nigel Kennedy, Jaz Coleman and the Doors. I'm sold!

[@andyg7781]

Really enjoyed this Sue. I enjoy classical music, but if I want to buy a particular cd there are so many recordings of the same piece it’s really difficult to know which one to choose. It was really interesting to hear you talk about the way Nigel Kennedy plays these recordings. I would find it really interesting to hear you talk about the difference between the way different artists play the same piece … just a suggestion!

[@sueastonmusic]

That’s a great idea, thank you! 🥰

[@andrew.simpson]

Enjoyed this classical music video and would like to see more from you and Sue.

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Thank you 🙏

[@tmc1054]

Max Ritcher's revision of The Four Seasons is exceptional, I'd strongly recommend it. Great to see Aunty Sue with Uncle Phil. I will check out the first pick as I'm searching for the definitive version of A Lark Ascending.

[@dhala54]

Nice video! My wife also plays violin and she introduced me to a lot of classical music.

[@CliveSnowden-fx8fp]

Sue explanations about what these recordings mean to her really brought the music alive here. I'm familiar with a couple of these pieces, but not these particular versions. The only CD I have by Nigel Kennedy is 'Recital'. I'm now very tempted to explore further. Thanks, Sue. Thanks, Phil.

[@MichaelRMarshall1]

Tower Records had a similar room called the Classical Annex. I always felt unwelcome when I walked into the room and was quite intimidated as well. And I thought audiophiles were "snooty" but what a welcome surprise to have your wife review and provide her thoughts combined with her own classical/violinist/musician experience. Looking forward to hearing from her again. Bravo to you BOTH!

[@sueastonmusic]

Thank you! Music snobbery is so horrible isn’t it?! I’m glad you enjoyed the video! 🥰

[@MichaelRMarshall1]

@@sueastonmusic Snobbish behavior is unwelcome in music, the arts, life, etc. I worked in a record store while in college from 1986 through 1991 and saw example after example of music "snobbery" from employees, customers and even musicians. I have ALWAYS looked at this as a missed opportunity to educate, enlighten, learn and listen. Thankfully, I was also privileged to have gotten to meet Chris Degarmo and Geoff Tate from Queensryche at their management's record store in Bellevue, Washington (East Street Records) as a 14 year old on vacation as mom drove me to this record store to buy their independently produced (206 Records) self titled EP after hearing the song "Queen of the Ryche" on the Seattle, WA radio station, KISW. They bent over backwards to find out about what I liked and listened to and could not have been nicer to my preppy "non-rocker" looking self and my mom. A fan for life is what they got in return!!!

[@grahamharfleet6026]

I really look forward to the Britten talk. I particularly love Britten’s Cello Symphony - such a dark atmospheric work. It definitely rewards some repeat listens.

[@candelise]

Happy Christmas, Phil and family!!

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Same to you!

[@anthonyferguson4102]

Phil was nice to see your lovey wife with a take on other kinds of music she should come on more with her take on music great video really enjoyed it and may god bless the both of you and have a very merry Christmas and a safe new years --- Anthony ( queens NYC)

[@sueastonmusic]

Thanks so much and I’m glad you enjoyed watching it! 🥰

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Hi Anthony, thank you - Merry Christmas - Phil & Sue

[@davestephens6421]

Lovely stuff!!! Being more of a jazz and rock fan, my favourite Nigel is his own The Four Elements - a beautiful album that reflects his wide tastes jn music. Around ten years ago I went to one of his Hendrix gigs and was lucky enough to end up after spending a long night at his home in London with just him, his wife and his bass player, listening to music and chatting (and drinking 😂)...what a night!!!! Great fun listening to a lot of jazzrock.....Miles, Mahavishnu, Jean Luc Ponty, and The Beatles...etc etc. When I woke the next morning I thought 'did that really happen last night, (early morning)!!! Yes it did!!! His wife was lovely, even arranging and paying for a taxi back to my hotel around 4.30 am!!! Very special!!!

[@sueastonmusic]

Wow! What an amazing story! I do love that album as well. Nige is such a great guy!

[@davestephens6421]

​@@sueastonmusicThanks Sue!! Lovely to meet you. Yes, it was crazy. I also saw him perform Elements with his orchestra, a few years prior, I think it was at the Barbican.....it was a long concert!!! He played The Four Seasons too. He is very generous 😂

[@robh6173]

Great video phil and sue. My fav inthe elgar is Hahn which has a beautiful tone. Looking forward to more classical.

[@SO-ym3zs]

Great to see classical music here! I love rock dearly, but my classical collection dwarfs it by thousands of discs. I remember when Nigel Kennedy was marketed as the enfant terrible of the classical world, sending certain stuffy British critics into a tizzy :)

[@Mikesmallfanclub]

Hi Phil Hi sue, another great video from you both again, not really being a big classical fan the planets and the four seasons is has far has I’ve got with that genre but I’ll definitely check out the Nigel Kennedy Doors concerto you’ve got me curious it’s always a joy to watch you both 👏👏

[@Jimi-ld2vw]

Nigel Kennedy, eh? Very good. I love when rock and classical overlap. I love it when classical and rock overlap. Are you familiar with Isao Tomita, Phil? He plays classical pieces with electronic keyboards. A master at it, he's got a hundred different sounds and uses all of them. And his transcriptions are excellent. Check it out Phil, if you haven't already. You just might get hooked on 'tronics, lol.

[@SteveOSpielberg]

I recently bought some Nigel Kennedy albums in Burnham On Sea.

[@bernardmaasdijk734]

Between 1988 and 2008 or so I collected a lot of classical music CDs. I must have over 500, from Bach to Bartok, but my favourite quickly became and still is Gustav Mahler. I think I have about 8 different versions of his sixth symphony. In places it's very loud, that might have something to do with it.

[@SO-ym3zs]

Mahler is a gift that keeps on giving! I have multiple sets of his complete symphonies and heard his 1st symphony in concert quite recently. An extraordinary composer. Perhaps more than any piece, it was his 2nd symphony that made me fall in love with classical music.

[@bernardmaasdijk734]

​@@SO-ym3zsWhen it comes to Mahler's 2nd the old Rattle + CBSO recording is my favourite.

[@747jono]

Great show. Love Nigel Kennedy. He's certainly a character. Loved the HMV in Manchester (original store). Closed doors, had great staff adviseing etc telling about new releases etc ,best recordings bit like Now Spinning Magazine. Love Rattle got various box sets

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Thank you - Phil

[@sueastonmusic]

Rattle is a fabulous conductor! 🥰

[@frankstecker5675]

Merry Christmas. 🎄

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Same to you!

[@wolf1977]

I gotta admit that I'm not huge on classical music & what I have of Nigel Kennedy recordings isn't classical (my classical consists mostly of Mozart - when push comes to shove - to me the 'father' of prog rock) so this'll be somewhat off topic but here goes. And I do own quite a bit of violin-based/led rock as I find that the violin can do a very good job of 'subbing' for electric guitar/being the lead intrument, but I don't usually go for instrumental violin covers of well-known rock songs. In general also not a huge fan of non-rock violin (with a few exceptions), or 'regular' acoustic violin versus electric. With that in mind...The Kennedy Experience - Nigel plays Hendrix."1983? (A Merman I Should Turn to Be)" turns into something different, so does "Third Stone From The Sun". John Etheridge on guitars doesn't hurt. Some of it doesn't quite work without Jimi's guitar & vocals - "Purple Haze" & "Little Wing" just sound weird to me...I've heard his East Meets East which to me sounds a bit weird, a mish-mash of different musical styles... And Blue Note Sessions which is well-played but I'm not really a 'straight' jazz guy (more jazz/rock fusion)...But then we have the 2008 album Nigel Kennedy & Jeff Beck. The last two tracks "Third Stone" & "Hills Of Saturn" cook, not for Kennedy but because of Beck. Now we're talking! "Saturn" also gets another live workout (again with Beck) on Royal Albert Hall, London (check out the YT video). Man if you're into rock & don't like Jeff Beck live something's wrong with you! There's also some rehearsal video footage on YT with The Who - also from Royal Albert Hall. Honestly that's about it for me re: Kennedy - I've only heard a few of his classical recordings, I'm sure they're all pretty high-quality but just not my thing

[@calummcgregor3662]

Cool ... just put 4 of these on to a Qobuz HiRes playlist ... will enjoy listening to them ... (already had the Doors one) ... it is always helpful to be guided by someone in the know when entering unfamiliar territory ... I do have a reasonable amount of classical music ... but nothing really off of the main stream / popular path (except maybe the Jon Lord classical material) ... will look forward to continuing my education .... CMcG Aberdeen Scotland ... p.s. not a good weekend for my footie teams (Aberdeen lost at home , and Man City beaten by Sue's (and Nigel's) Aston Villa!)

[@sueastonmusic]

Shame about the football! I’m sure it will improve though! 🥰⚽️

[@rolandconnor575]

Sue, have you heard of Nadja Salerno-Sonenberg? - my favorite violinist. Love hearing you too together! Cheers and Merry Christmas from Washington State, Pat

[@sueastonmusic]

Yes I have, she is a fabulous violinist!

[@rogertemple7193]

This was another awesome episode and i hope You, Sue and family have a🎄Merry Christmas🎄thanks Phil.🎶📻🎶

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Happy holidays! - Thank you Roger - :)

[@sueastonmusic]

Thank you and Merry Christmas to you too! 🥰🎄

[@davesmusictank1]

Loved the video. More Sue please with the classical side.

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

There is a lot more planned !

[@sueastonmusic]

Thank you! 🥰

[@simonharding3109]

Just more sue please 😂

[@jimmycampbell78]

Sue is delightful, big fan here too of your videos together Phil!

[@franciskocher200]

Nice video. Happy Christmas everybody.😃👍

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Same to you!

[@donaldanderson6604]

I didn't rate Nige's version of The Four Seasons but his second Vvaldi album, Vivaldi II, is excellent although it didn't get as much publicity.

[@juliemusique-tn4dp]

enjoying your videos with your wife very nice

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Thank you 🙏

[@douglasweston126]

Hi Phil & Sue - nice support role there Phil lol. I am not a classical music fan at all, although I did buy that series of classical CD's for 12 months, but just couldnt get into it. I do love "The Lark Ascending", that is just a sublime piece of music. My fav version is The London Philharmonic, David Nolan on Violin - stunning. That gorgeous wash of sound is so moving, and the Larks - well just lovely, what more can I say. kzbin.info/www/bejne/kIOVe596o7llopo&ab_channel=Richard Brittain I do have a 2CD - The Very Best Of Nigel Kennedy. I think that will probably suffice for me. Merry Christmas to you both, and stay safe. Cheers Doug

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Hi Doug - thank you 🙏 merry Christmas to you and yours - Phil :)