Critic
As a child, Vanessa-Mae’s astonishing talent was clearly apparent and early success as a virtuoso violinist within the rarefied world of classical musical was predicted by all who heard her play. Comparisons to some of the greatest prodigies of all time were made frequently but her status now, as a multi-million selling, iconic superstar, has surpassed the expectations of even the most ardent of her early admirers.
She is now a household name and has a 20-year career behind her that has achieved artistic and commercial success that few contemporary artists can come close to.
At the age of 13, she had already recorded three highly-praised classical albums. These contained a wide range of repertoire from masterpiece concertos by Tchaikovsky and Beethoven (the youngest artist ever to record these works), virtuoso showpieces by Paganini, Wieniawski and Sarasate to new arrangements of her favourite classical and pop melodies.
She has now sold some 10 million albums, holding over 40 international platinum awards from both pop and classical recordings, and her concert specials have been broadcast in over 100 countries. She has also collaborated with a wide range of different artists, in many different capacities, from featuring on the title track of Janet Jackson’s album Velvet Rope, producing an instrumental hits album for Japanese superband Glay to participating in a jazz-funk album Xpectation with Prince.