Nicola's nasty scrapes

SCOTS violin sensation Nicola Benedetti has made a hit debut in America - despite two shock setbacks.

SHOCK 1: She fell over over on stage on her opening night in Michigan last week.

Music fans gasped as the young Ayrshire beauty struggled to keep her balance in a full-length evening gown.

SHOCK 2: One US arts review website caused a storm after another concert when it referred to her violin as a "butt scratcher".

The cheeky comment was carried under a photo of Nicola in a review of her performance with the San Diego Youth Symphony on Thursday night by music professor Christian Herzog.

The SanDiego.com site was bombarded with complaints about his comment.

One fan wrote: "I've read many a review, both good and bad, but never have I found the language use so offensive as in this review.

"To refer in the photo caption to Ms. Benedetti's violin as a 'butt scratcher' is vulgar.

"Given the many press photos that Ms. Benedetti has available on her website, one could argue that you picked this one just to be able to use this so-called clever observation about the placement of the violin. How tacky."

But Nicola could rise well above such controversy, especially when, despite her fall, her first-night performance earned the 18- year-old former Young Musician of the Year a thunderous standing ovation.

One music fan said the sell-out audience had feared a mishap during her fine performance of Mendelssohn's Concerto for Violin and Orchestra,

noting: "Nicola had to battle with a long, slinky, light yellow evening gown, which threatened to trip her up at various points. That seemed to unnerve her slightly, as did the brace on the back of her violin."

But the audience demanded she return to bow and smile three times at the end

Completing a hectic opening week in California last night, having also performed in New York, New Mexico and San Diego, Nicola said: "The challenge of this trip is that I'm starting out completely unknown. But I'm happy to have the opportunity."

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