Kennedy, Nigel Paul (1956- )

English violinist. Known for his outstanding technique and popular appeal, he is credited with expanding the audience for classical music. His 1986 recording of Vivaldi's Four Seasons sold more than 2 million copies, becoming the best-selling classical recording to date.

Kennedy was educated at the Yehudi Menuhin School, Surrey, England, and the Juilliard School of Music, New York. He has allied Menuhin's ethic of openness and populism to modern marketing techniques. By cultivating a media image that challenges conventional standards of dress and decorum, he succeeded in attracting young audiences to carefully understated performances of J S Bach, Max Bruch, and Alban Berg. Following a five-year sabbatical 1992-97, he returned to the international concert circuit, receiving great critical acclaim. His repertoire of recordings also includes jazz and his own interpretations of rock music by US artists the Doors and Jimi Hendrix.