<body><![CDATA[What is Vanessa-Mae now? We know what she was: aged eight a virtuoso, and at 13 the youngest person ever to record the Beethoven and Tchaikovsky violin concertos. The greatest string to her bow was not her playing, however (not that sheΓÇÖs any slouch), but her willingness to jazz up the traditional repertoire and leap into the waves in nowt but a T-shirt. And thus marketing men were smitten, classical crossover was born and more than 8m albums were sold. But that was then. On her last album, Vanessa-Mae made a brave assault on the pop/dance market, marrying fiddle with drum machines and even singing. Her journey towards creative freedom continues here on Choreography. In partnership with some<br>well-known composers, it has taken her in search of the many rhythms of the globe ΓÇô although, as sheΓÇÖs travelling with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in tow, itΓÇÖs not so much Rough Guide to World Music as BaedekerΓÇÖs. Many destinations get a look-in. Argentina, in Tango de los exilados by Walter Taieb; Cuba, in The Havana Slide; India, in Raga's Dance by AR Rahman, the composer of Bombay Dreams; a particularly exotic Ireland, in Bill (Riverdance) WhelanΓÇÖs Emerald Tiger; even Vanessa-MaeΓÇÖs past, in her sweet, traditional arrangement of HandelΓÇÖs Minuet. Plus thereΓÇÖs a new track by the splendid Vangelis, RoxanneΓÇÖs Veil, but where that comes from, well, itΓÇÖs Greek to me. Click <a href="asfunction:Tardis.webPageOpen,http://www.vanessa-mae.com"><b>here</b></a> to visit the official Vanessa-Mae website.]]></body>
