Nicola Benedetti and friends review – delicious bite-sized musical snacks from a violinist still top of her game

Royal Albert Hall, London
The violinist was joined by an unconventional ensemble of cello, guitar and accordion for a relaxed evening that felt like a super-polished jam session

Not for nothing was Nicola Benedetti proclaimed “the country’s favourite violinist” in the publicity for this concert. Six weeks in to her first major concert tour in a decade, she arrived at the Royal Albert Hall to lead what in some ways felt like a celebration – a sort of super-polished jam session, punctuated by friendly, unpolished chat from the stage. Musically, though, if this were a party she was serving canapes – lots of small, delicious things, but not quite a proper meal.

And yet those bite-size pieces offered a lot of enjoy. Benedetti’s supporting ensemble is an unconventional but inspired combo of cello, guitar and accordion: Maxim Calver, Plínio Fernandes and Samuele Telari were tight, flexible and responsive partners, and together the quartet created some intriguing sonorities, which came across in this hall better than some of the finer details.