Violinist Nigel Kennedy To Release Autobiography in November

The book will detail Kennedy's often controversial experiences within the classical music industry

After finishing his first violin concerto, "Für Ludwig Van," British violinist Nigel Kennedy wrote an autobiography during one of the many COVID-19 lockdowns.

Entitled "Uncensored," the book will be accompanied by a 3 CD set — both to be released on November 4, 2021.

Drawing from his varied career as a concert violinist, his autobiography will dive into his particularly resistant views to some of the industry's more restrictive ideas about what classical music can and can't be.

With a passion for jazz music, he has released multiple jazz albums and performed with his ensembles Orchestra of Life and The Nigel Kennedy Quintet. He also has a long-standing working relationship with jazz violinist Stéphane Grappelli, with whom he began working at only age 13.

Within the standard classical repertoire, his recording of Elgar's Violin Concerto was voted 1985 Record of the Year by Gramophone magazine and was awarded Best Classical Album of the Year at the BPI Awards. In 2002, he became Artistic Director of the Polish Chamber Orchestra, a role the late Lord Menuhin once held.

His 1989 recording of Vivaldi's "The Four Seasons" with the English Chamber Orchestra sold over 2 million copies, earning a place as one of the best-selling classical works of all time.

"I am now (almost) 64 which is a much amusing age," said Kennedy. "One year away from my bus pass and also in a position to be associated with a song by the most famous band in history. An age which while still having a future also represents a long enough life to have some potentially interesting reminiscences, rich and varied."

The book also promises to cover delve into Kennedy's early life as a student and young professional. He will discuss his studies with Yehudi Menuhin and Dorothy DeLay at The Juilliard School.

"For me, memories are not relevant to a book of mine unless they are amusing or confront imbalance," Kennedy added.

To listen to some of the music to be featured on the accompanying CDs, click here.