Nicola Benedetti

If you're a bit of a classical music virgin, if you feel that you might enjoy it but you don't really know how to start or if you simply want to enjoy a world-class performer sharing some of the greatest music ever written, then Nicola Benedetti's Christmas Day show is for you.

The acclaimed 27 year old violinist makes her Radio 2 presenting debut with a two hour programme highlighting the very best of classical music, introduced and explained with an insider's eye for detail and an expert teacher's guiding hand. Nicky will be talking about her favourite classical pieces, including the first she ever played in public, one written especially for her by the late Sir John Tavener and a Beethoven composition that may be her favourite ever.

In addition she'll also be explaining the kind of regime a top flight classical musician has to live with, exploring the relationship between musician and conductor, and offering an introduction to the symbolism and story telling behind such well loved pieces as Vaughn Williams' Lark Ascending and Stravinsky's Firebird, this latter, of course, one of the BBC's Ten Pieces.

And that's just in the first hour....

Nicky says 'This is a fantastic opportunity for me to share some essential classical works and to offer an insight to them from the perspective of a violinist. I can't wait!'.

Violinist Nicola Benedetti offers an insight into classical music for beginners.