Nigel Kennedy in Pula on July 8 - the rebel violin virtuoso at the Small Roman Theatre

Nigel Kennedy, one of the most recognisable and unconventional violinists in the world, performs in Pula on July 8 at the Small Roman Theatre. For the classical audience in the region this is a rare chance to see an artist who has for decades broken down the borders between classical, jazz and rock - and to do so in the setting of an ancient theatre.

The Briton Kennedy shot to fame as early as 1989 with his recording of Vivaldi's "The Four Seasons", which sold over two million copies and became one of the best-selling classical records in history. Instead of staying in the mould of a concert violinist, he built the image of a rebel - a punk haircut, a fan's passion for Aston Villa and a repertoire that leaps freely from Bach to Jimi Hendrix and Duke Ellington.

What makes Kennedy's performances special is his relationship with the audience: he talks, jokes and plays with an energy that classical halls rarely see. His virtuosity is never in question - this is a musician schooled by the legendary Yehudi Menuhin - but the way he delivers it is entirely his own.

Tickets are available via ulaznice.hr. The concert is at the Small Roman Theatre in Pula, a venue that gives a performance like this an atmosphere no modern hall can offer.