Page 57 - Aldeburgh Festival 2022 FINAL COVERAGE BOOK

“I think it was definitely a sense of duty to culture, music and to Scotland that

interested me in the first place. I’ve forever been looking for ways to impact the

largest number of people possible with the things that I believe, and our
responsibility to a civilised society. Nothing really presents the kind of opportunity

that being able to make an impact on a festival of this size does.”

Does she have the business nous to do this? “I think I have that gene. I had a period

of time when I was shadowing my dad in the business world. On top of that there’s

the mission and the drive behind the inception of the Benedetti Foundation.” The

foundation provides education around the world, while her Italian dad, Giovanni,

ran dry-cleaning shops and invented a dispenser that solved the problems of
clingfilm. He made £21 million when he sold it in 2007. So she understands

business.

Yet something else looms to make her plans more complex. Stephanie, her elder

sister who is also a violinist, has two children and Nicola is crazy about them.

“It’s actually shocking the amount of love you have for a nephew and niece. I said

to my sister, ‘You know, it’s weird. I’ve known you my whole life, but I miss them

more than I miss you.’”

This brings us to another “huge personal challenge”. She had a long-term partner,

the cellist Leonard Elschen-broich, but that relationship ended and her private life

went dark. It had to. Her looks and fame earned her stalkers. One threatened

suicide when he found out she had a boyfriend and another was so fierce that she
had to get a restraining order. Like many stars, she has to live behind an opaque

screen.

But — and this she seldom admits — she now has a partner and clearly

Stephanie’s children have made her broody. She tentatively admits that she wants

to have children — “Erm, if I am fortunate enough to be able to, yes I hope so.”