Cultural Life: Nicola Benedetti, violinist

Music

Strangely enough, someone just introduced me to the Andrews Sisters. They are a great post-harmony group. They sing these really beautiful, upbeat songs. I have also been listening to a lot of Brahms and Beethoven, as well as some Michael Jackson.

Books

I just finished 'The Audacity of Hope', Barack Obama's book. It was quite refreshing. There wasn't too much mincing of words.

Film

I haven't been to the cinema recently but I watched Christopher Nolan's 'The Prestige'. It's brilliant. I also want to see 'Revolutionary Road', because I've heard it's good.

Concerts

I saw Christoph Eschenbach conduct the Schleswig-Holstein Festival Orchestra in Germany. They played Brahms 2nd Symphony. It was one of those performances I will remember for the rest of my life. I was in tears.

Visual arts

I went to see Gerhard Richter's 'Retrospektive' at the Albertina in Vienna – it was absolutely incredible. I like the way he blurs painting and photography.

'Fantasie' is released 7 September on DG. She will perform with the Scottish Symphony Orchestra at BBC Proms in the Park: Last Night of the Proms, Glasgow Green, on 12 September