This recording has made history.
On release it reached not only the top of the classical chart but also No19 in the pop chart, the first time a British violinist has reached the ''Top 20'' of the Official UK Albums Chart for 20 years.
A real homecoming for the Scottish-born soloist, who at age 16 (seven years ago) won the BBC's Young Musician of the Year competition, it presents a programme blending classical music with Scottish folk music, two traditions not usually recorded together.
Conducted by Rory Macdonald, the Scottish orchestra capably accompanies her in Max Bruch's Scottish Fantasy as the opening treat.
This is essentially a four-movement violin concerto containing Scots traditional tunes blended with German romanticism, and written for the virtuoso violinist Pablo de Sarasate.
It is followed by a bracket of three songs with words by Robert Burns (Auld Lang Syne Variations included) and then the orchestra bows out until the Bonnie Banks of Loch Lomond lush finale.
The album then has six tracks of traditional music, in which the Stradivarius-playing virtuoso is backed by a group of traditional musicians on instruments such as accordion, guitar, fiddles, bouzouki, bass and percussion.
Julie Fowlis (with vocals and whistles in a four-part traditional Mouth Music and Tunes set) particularly impresses.
The concept seems odd, although musicians like Itzhak Perlman and Yo-Yo Ma have released albums to celebrate their own cultural heritage.
Benedetti says: ''I have a constant yearning for Scotland. The music on this album comes from a very deep, emotional place.''
Highlight: Benedetti's brilliance and sweet tones.
