SCOTS violinist Nicola Benedetti has described performing at the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony as one of the "best moments" of her life.

The 27-year-old virtuoso played the tune Loch Lomond in front of a 40,000 strong crowd and TV audience of millions.

And she has now told how the "terrifying" performance has been among her career highlights.

She said: "It was terrifying. Usually I would do much longer pieces, so to me that would mean I would be more nervous. But the size of that event ... it really was one of the best moments of my life.

"I think, for violinists you never really have people singing along to something you are playing, it just doesn't happen and to be in that stadium with 40,000 people singing Loch Lomond, I'll never forget it for as long as I live. I do always feel a bit of extra pressure coming back to Scotland, I always want to do even better."

Nicola, who plays a £6.3million Stradivarius violin, is about to embark on a two-month tour of Korea, Australia and the US. She told Radio 2 how some of her musical challenges leave her emotionally drained.

She said: "Sometimes I am totally overwhelmed by the strength of the emotion of the music."