Vanessa-Mae
Encyclopedia
Vanessa-Mae Vanakorn Nicholson (born 27 October 1978), known professionally as Vanessa-Mae (in Chinese: 陳美, Chén Měi), is an internationally known British
violinist. Her music style is self-described as "violin techno-acoustic fusion", as several of her albums prominently feature the techno style. A former child prodigy, she became a successful crossover violinist with album sales reaching several millions, having made her the wealthiest young entertainer in the United Kingdom in 2006.
to Vorapong Vanakorn, an English hotelier of Thai
descent, and Pamela Soei Luang Tan, a Chinese
lawyer and semi-professional concert pianist. After her parents separated, her mother married Graham Nicholson, a British attorney who adopted Vanessa-Mae, and the family moved to England when Vanessa-Mae was four years old. She grew up in London and holds British citizenship. She began playing piano at the age of three and violin at five.
At the age of eight she went to Beijing
to study at the Central Conservatoire of China with Lin Yao Ji. She attended the Francis Holland School
in central London, and at eleven, after her concert debut in 1988, she enrolled at the Royal College of Music
in London.
) mostly involving classical music and conservative style. She made her international professional debut at the age of ten in 1988 at the Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival
in Germany, and the same year made her concerto debut on stage with the Philharmonia Orchestra
in London. At the age of thirteen, she was the youngest soloist to record both the Beethoven and Tchaikovsky violin concertos, according to Guinness World Records
.
On entering adolescence Vanessa-Mae broke away from her traditional classical
influences and became known for her flashy, sexy style appearing in music videos in stylish outfits. Many critics dismissed her then as "Fiddling Lolita", but the German entertainment journalist Gero Hoschek lauded her as the new Goddess of the Violin, likening her to Niccolò Paganini
, the so-called "Devil's Violinist". Her first pop-style album, The Violin Player
, was released in 1995. She appeared on the 1997 Janet Jackson
album The Velvet Rope
playing a violin solo on the song "Velvet Rope".
Vanessa-Mae was managed by her mother, who owns a private recording label and music agency, until 1999, when Vanessa-Mae sacked her as her manager.
In April 2006, Vanessa-Mae was ranked as the wealthiest young entertainer under 30 in the UK in the Sunday Times Rich List
2006. having an estimated fortune of about £32 million stemming from concerts and record sales of over an estimated 10 million copies worldwide, which is an unprecedented achievement for a young female violinist.
Vanessa-Mae announced in 2006 that she would be releasing a new album sometime between 2007 and 2008. The album was said to draw inspiration from great ballets and opera themes. A new album was expected in 2009, but the year ended without the expected release.
In 2009 Vanessa-Mae took up residence in the Swiss
alpine resort Zermatt
. A skier since the age of five, she plans to compete in the 2014 Winter Olympics
as a downhill skier, representing Thailand
.
on the birthday of Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov
along with several other celebrities, playing excerpts from Vivaldi's Four Seasons
, reportedly receiving $500,000 for her performance. Human rights groups, who had urged the celebrities to cancel their appearances because of human rights abuses carried out under Kadyrov, criticised the celebrities for attending the event. Human Rights Watch
released a statement which said, "Ramzan Kadyrov is linked to a litany of horrific human rights abuses. It's inappropriate for stars to get paid to party with him. It bolsters his image and legitimizes a brutal leader and his regime. And getting paid to be part of such a lavish show in Chechnya trivializes the suffering of countless victims of human rights abuses there." Warnings from Human Rights Watch
, Human Rights Foundation
, ECCHR before the event and a call for the performers to return or donate their earnings from the event has drawn no response from Vanessa-Mae.
. The Guadagnini was made in 1761, and was purchased by her parents at an auction for £250,000 when she was ten. It was stolen in January 1995, but was recovered by the police two months later. She once dropped it and it broke, but it was repaired.
In addition, she uses one of two Zeta Jazz Model electric violin
s, one of which is white and the other one of which features decals of the US flag
. She has also been using a silver-grey Zeta Jazz Model electric violin since 2001. She also owns three Ted Brewer Violins two of which she uses on stage (a Crossbow and a Vivo2 Clear) and in publicity material. In addition to these violins, she sometimes buys violins and resells them later, giving the proceeds to charity.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
violinist. Her music style is self-described as "violin techno-acoustic fusion", as several of her albums prominently feature the techno style. A former child prodigy, she became a successful crossover violinist with album sales reaching several millions, having made her the wealthiest young entertainer in the United Kingdom in 2006.
Childhood and education
Vanessa-Mae was born in SingaporeSingapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
to Vorapong Vanakorn, an English hotelier of Thai
Thai people
The Thai people, or Siamese, are the main ethnic group of Thailand and are part of the larger Tai ethnolinguistic peoples found in Thailand and adjacent countries in Southeast Asia as well as southern China. Their language is the Thai language, which is classified as part of the Kradai family of...
descent, and Pamela Soei Luang Tan, a Chinese
Chinese people
The term Chinese people may refer to any of the following:*People with Han Chinese ethnicity ....
lawyer and semi-professional concert pianist. After her parents separated, her mother married Graham Nicholson, a British attorney who adopted Vanessa-Mae, and the family moved to England when Vanessa-Mae was four years old. She grew up in London and holds British citizenship. She began playing piano at the age of three and violin at five.
At the age of eight she went to Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
to study at the Central Conservatoire of China with Lin Yao Ji. She attended the Francis Holland School
Francis Holland School
Francis Holland School is the name of two independent day schools for girls in central London governed by the Francis Holland Schools Trust...
in central London, and at eleven, after her concert debut in 1988, she enrolled at the Royal College of Music
Royal College of Music
The Royal College of Music is a conservatoire founded by Royal Charter in 1882, located in South Kensington, London, England.-Background:The first director was Sir George Grove and he was followed by Sir Hubert Parry...
in London.
Professional life
Vanessa-Mae became famous in the United Kingdom throughout her childhood making regular appearances on television (for example on Blue PeterBlue Peter
Blue Peter is the world's longest-running children's television show, having first aired in 1958. It is shown on CBBC, both in its BBC One programming block and on the CBBC channel. During its history there have been many presenters, often consisting of two women and two men at a time...
) mostly involving classical music and conservative style. She made her international professional debut at the age of ten in 1988 at the Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival
Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival
The Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival is a classical music festival held every year in summer time all over the state of Schleswig-Holstein in Northern Germany....
in Germany, and the same year made her concerto debut on stage with the Philharmonia Orchestra
Philharmonia Orchestra
The Philharmonia Orchestra is one of the leading orchestras in Great Britain, based in London. Since 1995, it has been based in the Royal Festival Hall. In Britain it is also the resident orchestra at De Montfort Hall, Leicester and the Corn Exchange, Bedford, as well as The Anvil, Basingstoke...
in London. At the age of thirteen, she was the youngest soloist to record both the Beethoven and Tchaikovsky violin concertos, according to Guinness World Records
Guinness World Records
Guinness World Records, known until 2000 as The Guinness Book of Records , is a reference book published annually, containing a collection of world records, both human achievements and the extremes of the natural world...
.
On entering adolescence Vanessa-Mae broke away from her traditional classical
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
influences and became known for her flashy, sexy style appearing in music videos in stylish outfits. Many critics dismissed her then as "Fiddling Lolita", but the German entertainment journalist Gero Hoschek lauded her as the new Goddess of the Violin, likening her to Niccolò Paganini
Niccolò Paganini
Niccolò Paganini was an Italian violinist, violist, guitarist, and composer. He was one of the most celebrated violin virtuosi of his time, and left his mark as one of the pillars of modern violin technique...
, the so-called "Devil's Violinist". Her first pop-style album, The Violin Player
The Violin Player
The Violin Player was the first techno/pop album by classical and pop musician Vanessa-Mae, released in 1995 . It is also the first album Vanessa-Mae released on the EMI label....
, was released in 1995. She appeared on the 1997 Janet Jackson
Janet Jackson
Janet Damita Jo Jackson is an American recording artist and actress. Known for a series of sonically innovative, socially conscious and sexually provocative records, as well as elaborate stage shows, television and film roles, she has been a prominent figure in popular culture for over 25 years...
album The Velvet Rope
The Velvet Rope
The Velvet Rope is the sixth studio album by American recording artist Janet Jackson, released October 7, 1997 by Virgin Records. Prior to its debut, Jackson had been at the center of a second high-profile bidding war over her recording contract...
playing a violin solo on the song "Velvet Rope".
Vanessa-Mae was managed by her mother, who owns a private recording label and music agency, until 1999, when Vanessa-Mae sacked her as her manager.
In April 2006, Vanessa-Mae was ranked as the wealthiest young entertainer under 30 in the UK in the Sunday Times Rich List
Sunday Times Rich List
The Sunday Times Rich List is a list of the 1,000 wealthiest people or families in the United Kingdom, updated annually in April and published as a magazine supplement by British national Sunday newspaper The Sunday Times since 1989...
2006. having an estimated fortune of about £32 million stemming from concerts and record sales of over an estimated 10 million copies worldwide, which is an unprecedented achievement for a young female violinist.
Vanessa-Mae announced in 2006 that she would be releasing a new album sometime between 2007 and 2008. The album was said to draw inspiration from great ballets and opera themes. A new album was expected in 2009, but the year ended without the expected release.
In 2009 Vanessa-Mae took up residence in the Swiss
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
alpine resort Zermatt
Zermatt
Zermatt is a municipality in the district of Visp in the German-speaking section of the canton of Valais in Switzerland. It has a population of about 5,800 inhabitants....
. A skier since the age of five, she plans to compete in the 2014 Winter Olympics
2014 Winter Olympics
The 2014 Winter Olympics, officially the XXII Olympic Winter Games, or the 22nd Winter Olympics, is a major international multi-sport event scheduled to be celebrated from 7 to 23 February 2014, in Sochi, Russia with some events held in the resort town of Krasnaya Polyana. Both the Olympic and...
as a downhill skier, representing Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
.
Controversies
In October 2011, Vanessa-Mae attended celebrations in ChechnyaChechnya
The Chechen Republic , commonly referred to as Chechnya , also spelled Chechnia or Chechenia, sometimes referred to as Ichkeria , is a federal subject of Russia . It is located in the southeastern part of Europe in the Northern Caucasus mountains. The capital of the republic is the city of Grozny...
on the birthday of Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov
Ramzan Kadyrov
Ramzan Akhmadovich Kadyrov is the President of Chechnya and a former Chechen rebel.Ramzan is a son of former Chechen President Akhmad Kadyrov, assassinated in May 2004. In February 2007 Kadyrov replaced Alu Alkhanov as President, shortly after he had turned 30, which is the minimum age for the post...
along with several other celebrities, playing excerpts from Vivaldi's Four Seasons
The Four Seasons (Vivaldi)
The Four Seasons is a set of four violin concertos by Antonio Vivaldi. Composed in 1723, The Four Seasons is Vivaldi's best-known work, and is among the most popular pieces of Baroque music. The texture of each concerto is varied, each resembling its respective season...
, reportedly receiving $500,000 for her performance. Human rights groups, who had urged the celebrities to cancel their appearances because of human rights abuses carried out under Kadyrov, criticised the celebrities for attending the event. Human Rights Watch
Human Rights Watch
Human Rights Watch is an international non-governmental organization that conducts research and advocacy on human rights. Its headquarters are in New York City and it has offices in Berlin, Beirut, Brussels, Chicago, Geneva, Johannesburg, London, Los Angeles, Moscow, Paris, San Francisco, Tokyo,...
released a statement which said, "Ramzan Kadyrov is linked to a litany of horrific human rights abuses. It's inappropriate for stars to get paid to party with him. It bolsters his image and legitimizes a brutal leader and his regime. And getting paid to be part of such a lavish show in Chechnya trivializes the suffering of countless victims of human rights abuses there." Warnings from Human Rights Watch
Human Rights Watch
Human Rights Watch is an international non-governmental organization that conducts research and advocacy on human rights. Its headquarters are in New York City and it has offices in Berlin, Beirut, Brussels, Chicago, Geneva, Johannesburg, London, Los Angeles, Moscow, Paris, San Francisco, Tokyo,...
, Human Rights Foundation
Human Rights Foundation
The Human Rights Foundation is a non-profit organization whose stated mission "is to ensure that freedom is both preserved and promoted" in the Americas. The Human Rights Foundation was founded in 2005 by Thor Halvorssen...
, ECCHR before the event and a call for the performers to return or donate their earnings from the event has drawn no response from Vanessa-Mae.
Violins
Vanessa-Mae most often uses one of two types of violins, a Guadagnini acoustic violin or a Zeta Jazz model electric violinElectric violin
An electric violin is a violin equipped with an electronic output of its sound. The term most properly refers to an instrument purposely made to be electrified with built-in pickups, usually with a solid body...
. The Guadagnini was made in 1761, and was purchased by her parents at an auction for £250,000 when she was ten. It was stolen in January 1995, but was recovered by the police two months later. She once dropped it and it broke, but it was repaired.
In addition, she uses one of two Zeta Jazz Model electric violin
Electric violin
An electric violin is a violin equipped with an electronic output of its sound. The term most properly refers to an instrument purposely made to be electrified with built-in pickups, usually with a solid body...
s, one of which is white and the other one of which features decals of the US flag
Flag of the United States
The national flag of the United States of America consists of thirteen equal horizontal stripes of red alternating with white, with a blue rectangle in the canton bearing fifty small, white, five-pointed stars arranged in nine offset horizontal rows of six stars alternating with rows...
. She has also been using a silver-grey Zeta Jazz Model electric violin since 2001. She also owns three Ted Brewer Violins two of which she uses on stage (a Crossbow and a Vivo2 Clear) and in publicity material. In addition to these violins, she sometimes buys violins and resells them later, giving the proceeds to charity.
Albums
- ViolinViolin (album)Violin was the first album released by violinst Vanessa-Mae. It was recorded in October 1990, near her 12th birthday, and released shortly afterwards in March 1991...
(1990) - Kids' ClassicsKids' ClassicsKids' Classics is an album by classical musician Vanessa-Mae, released in 1991 on the Tritico record label. It was recorded in association with the New Belgian Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Nicholas Cleobury. The music was recorded in Ghent, Belgium...
(1991) - Tchaikovsky & Beethoven Violin ConcertosTchaikovsky & Beethoven Violin Concertos (Vanessa Mae)Tchaivoksky & Beethoven Violin Concertos consist of three conventional classical albums recorded by classical musician Vanessa-Mae before her rise to pop stardom.-Track listing:Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto in D, OP. 35 32:14 ...
(1991/1992) - The Violin PlayerThe Violin PlayerThe Violin Player was the first techno/pop album by classical and pop musician Vanessa-Mae, released in 1995 . It is also the first album Vanessa-Mae released on the EMI label....
(13 February 1995) UK chart Peak Position – 11 (21 Weeks) - The Alternative Record from Vanessa-Mae (1996)
- The Classical Album 1 (21 October 1996) – UK Chart Peak Position – 47 (1 Week)
- China Girl: The Classical Album 2China Girl: The Classical Album 2China Girl was the seventh album by classical and pop musician Vanessa-Mae, released in 1997 .China Girl contains only three tracks. The first is a recording of the Butterfly Lovers' Violin Concerto performed with the London Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Viktor Fedotov...
(August 1997) – UK Chart Peak Position – 56 (3 Weeks) - StormStorm (Vanessa-Mae album)-Track listing:# "Summer Haze"# "Storm" # "Retro"# "Bach Street Prelude"# "Leyenda"# " Can, Can "# "Happy Valley"# "A Poet's Quest "...
(UK: 27 October 1997; US: 14 July 1998) UK Chart Peak Position – 27 (5 Weeks) - The Original Four SeasonsThe Four Seasons (Vivaldi)The Four Seasons is a set of four violin concertos by Antonio Vivaldi. Composed in 1723, The Four Seasons is Vivaldi's best-known work, and is among the most popular pieces of Baroque music. The texture of each concerto is varied, each resembling its respective season...
and the Devil's Trill SonataDevil's Trill SonataThe Violin Sonata in G minor, more famously known as the Devil's Trill Sonata is a famous work for solo violin by Giuseppe Tartini , famous for being extremely technically demanding, even today....
: The Classical Album 3 (UK: 9 November 1998; US: 9 March 1999) - The Classical Collection: Part 1 (25 September 2000)
- Subject to ChangeSubject to Change (Vanessa Mae album)Subject to Change is a pop album by Vanessa-Mae, released in the UK by EMI on 14 May 2001. The album has yet to be released in the United States.The opening track, "Yantra", features vocals by Le Mystère des Voix Bulgares.-Track listing:...
(14 May 2001) UK Chart Peak Position – 58 (2 Weeks) - XpectationXpectationXpectation is the twenty-sixth studio album by Prince, only available for download on his website, NPG Music Club. The album was made available for MP3 download on January 1, 2003 and all the songs are instrumentals...
(Jazz collaboration with Prince) (2003) - Choreography (18 October 2004) UK Chart Peak Position – 66 (1 Week)
Compilations
- The Best of Vanessa-Mae (2002)
- The Ultimate Vanessa-MaeThe Ultimate Vanessa-MaeThe Ultimate Vanessa-Mae is a compilation album by Vanessa-Mae, released on EMI in 2003 .-Track listing:# "Classical Gas" – 3:48# "I Feel Love" – 4:26...
(23 December 2003) - Platinum Collection (19 February 2007)
Special edition albums
- The Violin Player: Japanese Release (1995)
- The Classical Album 1: Silver Limited Edition (1 January 1997)
- Storm: Asian Special Edition (1 January 1997)
- The Original Four Seasons and the Devil's Trill Sonata: Asian Special Edition (1 February 1999)
- Subject to Change: Asian Special Edition (1 July 2001)
- The Ultimate: Dutch Limited Edition (January 2004)
Singles
- "Toccata & FugueToccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV 565The Toccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV 565, is a piece of organ music attributed to Johann Sebastian Bach. It is one of the most famous works in the organ repertoire, and has been used in a variety of popular media ranging from film, video games, to rock music, and ringtones...
" (January 1995) UK Chart Peak Position – 16 - "Toccata & Fugue – The Mixes" (1995)
- "Red Hot" (May 1995) UK Chart Peak Position – 37
- "Classical GasClassical Gas"Classical Gas" is an instrumental musical piece composed and originally performed by Mason Williams. Originally released in 1968 on the album The Mason Williams Phonograph Record, it has been re-recorded and re-released numerous times since by Williams...
" (November 1995) UK Chart Peak Position – 41 - "I'm a Doun for Lack O' Johnnie (A Little Scottish Fantasy)" (October 1996) UK Chart Peak Position – 28
- "Happy Valley" (1997)
- "Storm" (October 1997) UK Chart Peak Position – 53
- "I Feel LoveI Feel Love"I Feel Love" is a song by Donna Summer, taken from her 1977 concept album I Remember Yesterday.The song constituted the "future" segment of the album, which represented a stylistic progress through time...
" (December 1997) UK Chart Peak Position – 41 - "Devil's Trill"/"Reflection" (November 1998)
- "Destiny" (2001)
- "White Bird" (July 2001) UK Chart Peak Position – 66
Other appearances
- "BecauseBecause (The Beatles song)"Because" is a song written by John Lennon and recorded by The Beatles in 1969. It features a prominent three-part vocal harmony by Lennon, McCartney and George Harrison, overdubbed three times to make nine voices in all...
" (1998) - George MartinGeorge MartinSir George Henry Martin CBE is an English record producer, arranger, composer and musician. He is sometimes referred to as "the Fifth Beatle"— a title that he often describes as "nonsense," but the fact remains that he served as producer on all but one of The Beatles' original albums...
's 1998 album, In My Life
Filmography
- Live at the Royal Albert Hall, The Red Hot Tour (1995) (concert documentary)
- The Violin Fantasy (1998)
- Arabian NightsArabian Nights (TV miniseries)Arabian Nights is a two-part 2000 American/British miniseries, adapted by Peter Barnes from Sir Richard Francis Burton's translation of the medieval epic One Thousand and One Nights. Mili Avital and Dougray Scott stars as Scheherazade and Shahryar respectively...
(2000) (actor in the series) - The Making of MeThe Making of Me (TV series)The Making of Me is a 60 minute miniseries on the British Broadcasting Corporation , the first season was in 2008. As of 1 September, 2008, there have been three episodes.-Episode list:...
(2008) (subject of episode 3)