About Vanessa-Mae

Who Is Vanessa-Mae?

Vanessa-Mae is a young, talented, stunningly beautiful violinist, born exactly 196 years to the day after Paganini.

A Quick Vanessa-Mae Album Discography

Other sites provide detailed Vanessa-Mae discography, see my Links page. I don't see the point in redoing what others have done before, except to add my own comments.

• The Violin Player
Her first techno-acoustic fusion album, released in 1995. "That" picture (the one in the sea) is actually on the inside of the CD booklet on most releases, but I have a copy (bought in 2000) which has it on the front cover.
• The Classical Album 1
Brahms to Bruch, and also includes her own arrangement of the folk song I'm a'Doun for lack o' Johnny.
• Storm
Her 2nd techno-acoustic fusion work, and more diverse than the previous one. Includes I'm a' Doun (again) and Happy Valley, the 1997 Re-unification Overture, as well as 2 songs (her voice sounds like Sandra's, or possibly even like that of Vanessa Paradis in her early days).
• The Classical Album 2, aka China Girl
A relatively short recording (~45 minutes), it contains the Butterfly Concerto, Violin fantasy on Puccini's Turandot, and Happy Valley (again).
• The Original Four Seasons
Tho' it doesn't say it, it could be called The Classical Album 3. There has been controversy over whether it should be called "original", as her rendition of Vivald's best-known work is unorthodox, rather like (Nigel) Kennedy's.
• The Classical Collection Part 1
A 3CD set of some of her earliest works.
• Subject to Change
This is her first release since her mangement changes. More complex than her previous fusion recordings, her singing voice gets greater prominence on this album. She sings on 3 tracks, in Spanish, English and French.

What is Techno-Acoustic Fusion?

Vanessa-Mae's label for her pop instrumental music. Similar labels have been used to describe the music of other contemporary instrumentalists such as Vangelis. Indeed, the uninitiated could probably be forgiven for thinking that The Blessed Spirits, on Vanessa-Mae's Storm album, was a Mike Oldfield or Vangelis composition. It's music which places few ideological demands on the listener, something reflected in the diversity of her audience. Indeed it is 'ideology' which drives her critics in the classical world, who accuse her of prostituting classical music. The rock/pop world seems more open.

Vanessa-Mae's Image

Vanessa-Mae is utterly, awesomely beautiful, and sexy — and knows it. Her 'pop star' image, tho' conservative by rock/pop standards, has caused some controversy. But besides her obvious prodigious talent, Vanessa-Mae is clearly, from interviews, a very smart woman. To me her talent and sophistication add to her sex appeal, and I'd have little interest in her if she were just a pretty face. [Well, not enuff to dedicate a web site to her anyway.]