Beethoven, Mozart and Bach have in common that they are some of the most celebrated classical music composers of all time - and also that they are all white men.

But while this lack of diversity has been lamented by some in the industry, violinist Nicola Benedetti has said that she doesn't like to apologise “look and gender and race” of those who have written the most well-known music in history.

Speaking to Gramophone magazine Ms Benedetti said: “I don’t really like apologising for the look and gender and race of the people who have written most of the music that we celebrate, though.

“It’s just a fact that in our European history the people who were able to take their skills to the nth degree, or to study something or to effect change, were often white men, and I don’t think that lessens the power of their music.”