Communication from heart to heart: Violin maestro tells of musical odyssey

By Faruk Zorlu and Isa Toprak

ANKARA (AA) — For Nigel Kennedy, the bestselling classical violinist of all time, music is a vessel for harmony among people, but one must distinguish the art from its surrounding culture.

In an exclusive interview with Anadolu in the Turkish capital Ankara, the musician delved into his complex relationship with the world of classical music.

Despite a deep-seated love for the art form itself and its power to transcend societal constructs, Kennedy expresses disdain for its preoccupation with technical perfection over genuine expression.

"I hate the world of classical music, but I love classical music," told Anadolu.

"Music is really communication from one heart to another heart," he said.

His album, Vivaldi: The New Four Seasons, sold over 3 million copies since its release in 1989, securing his name in the Guinness World Records. Kennedy's repertoire spans classical, jazz, and rock music, encompassing a wide range of styles from the Baroque period to the present day.

Kennedy's interest in music goes back to his young childhood. Recounting the first sparks that ignited his passion, he said his mother, unable to afford a babysitter, would put him under the piano as she gave lessons to others when he was just one-and-a-half years old.

"I would hear this music coming from above. And that, I think, was some kind of osmosis. (It) went straight into me and then I wanted to play by the time I was three."

- Inspired by Turkish music

Venturing into discussions on diverse musical traditions, Kennedy expressed an appreciation for Turkish music, particularly captivated by its emotive string instruments and soulful intonations.

"I love the way that string instruments are played here in Türkiye, with the intonation from the soul, and not from the page. And like, but with extreme accuracy, so I love that," he said.

Expressing his admiration for Ibrahim Tatlises, one of Türkiye’s best-known musician figures famed for his work in the arabesque genre, Kennedy said: "I've been listening to his music a lot because these melodies are fantastic. And his voice is phenomenal. And the orchestration is magical."

Reflecting on his experiences in Türkiye, Kennedy praised the hospitality and the less-materialistic culture.

"I would say that hospitality here and the natural way of living without so much posing around like typical American life of people posing with material belongings. And hospitality for me, is something amazing," he added.

Highlighting the connection Turkish people have with music, he said: "People have got music in their hearts because you hear music everywhere."

- Global injustices and collective action

Kennedy also voiced frustration over international inaction in addressing conflicts, including the Israeli-Palestinian issue.

"To see this, more than apartheid, now, it is almost the atrocities which happened in 1932 to 1947. This type of thing happening again, and enforced hunger of innocent people and children. It is soul destroying to think about that."

"To think that there is such a lost generation of Palestinian people now and that countries like Lebanon can be bombed at will is unbelievable," he said.

He also referred to the historical injustices faced by his Irish and Jewish ancestors, he lamented the continued suffering and calls for global action to alleviate the plight of innocent victims.

"I am from Irish background who had it difficult from the English. I have also got a part-Jewish background. That is why I can play sad music. That is why I can play music with the depth of the soul because of the sorrow of Jewish people and Irish people through the oppression and aggression, which they had to live through or die through."

"It’s unbelievable that the international community, we sit there and say, ‘Oh, isn't it bad?’ But what do we do? We do not do anything.

He underlined the need for mutual understanding, saying: "I mean, I will go and play with Palestinian friends in Palestine, and so many of my friends are Jewish," he said, adding: "It is not a Jewish problem. It is an Israeli-Zionist problem."

Expressing skepticism towards cultural boycotts as a viable solution, the musician argued for the intrinsic value of music as a form of communication and unity.

"On this issue I do not really believe that cultural boycott is a good solution. It does not solve anything, it just leads to isolation. And then more extremism," he said, adding:​​​​​​​