NICOLA Benedetti has said that mobile phones, food and drink should be banned from concerts.

The 28-year-old listed concert-goers texting or talking on their handsets, and eating or drinking as among the most annoying habits in the world of classical music.

In an interview with radio station Classic FM, she said: "I'm not really a fan of [the idea that] everybody should have their phones out and everybody should be able to eat and drink during concerts and let's make it into something incredibly casual. I don't think the music is very casual.

"I think there's something extremely intense about the music and the thing that I'm looking for as a musician is that people feel as much as possible from the performance, and in order for people to feel as much as possible they need to be as engaged as possible."

The West Kilbride-born star also claimed that classical music should take more pointers from pop music – but she urged caution against making her style "more colourful, less complex and less focussed".

She said: "There are elements of presentation and connectivity online that other genres have taken advantage of more than classical music.

"I think there are things to be learned from the way the pop music industry has such a presence everywhere", she added.

"But I don't think on any level classical music should be made more colourful, should be shortened, should be less complex, should be less focussed.

"It's those elements that make a classical concert what it is - one of the most emotive experiences you can have."