Page 102 - Virtual Benedetti Sessions Coverage Book

When the music industry went into lockdown, she began planning a three-week
programme of tutorials, workshops and talks for musicians and teachers of all ages.

More than 7,000 people from 66 countries signed up to take part directly in Zoom

sessions, while the overall audience for the 200 videos posted on social media has
topped 670,000.

The Virtual Benedetti Sessions will culimate today with a celebration concert which will
be broadcast on Facebook and YouTube at 4pm.

Benedetti said the numbers the project had reached had “completely surpassed” all of
her expectations and led to a lot of reflection about how much work could be done on

virtual platforms in the post-lockdown world.

She said: “Everybody is addressing the potential functionality of what you are able to do
from home and how much artistic output you’re able to achieve from your bedroom.

“The constant need to be travelling all the time is something I’m re-addressing. It’s just a
case of finding a balance. Would anybody really mind if I did a month’s less concerts in a

year?

“Nobody is going to really care. I’d still be doing a huge number. I’ve been averaging

more than 100 concerts a year. That’s more than a lot of people do if they are playing

solo concertos. To do 50 concerts or 70 concerts would be plenty.

“I’m going to be hugely active with my foundation and I would never want to not be

performing. I’m not desperate to be back doing that because I’m so consumed in what

I’m doing at the moment.

“I don’t believe in sitting around and constantly lusting after something that you can’t

do in that moment.

“It’s not a good use of energy. We should make the most of what we have now. When we

have the chance to be able to perform for people again I’ll be raring to go.

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