I never could have imagined that I would be writing to you about a film starring STING and TRUDIE STYLER that features yours truly, and yet here I am!! This DVD was created to benefit the Royal Opera House Education Program.
It all started about three years ago when I got a call from my dear friend, Charlie Hamlen of Classical Action: Performing Arts Against AIDS. Sting, Trudie, and theater director John Caird (the original director of Les Miserables) had created a theater piece based on the letters of Robert and Clara Schumann about their undying love for each other. The structure is such that there are two groups. The first is Robert, represented by Sting in spoken word, a male pianist and violinist, and a baritone. The second is Clara, represented by Trudie, a female pianist and cellist, and a soprano. In the center is the narrator who provides the audience with a background for the letters to complete the story. The piece alternates between spoken word, by Sting and Trudie respectively, and the music of Robert, Clara, Chopin, and Mozart.
Sting, Trudie, and John had performed this piece to great acclaim for a benefit for the Royal Opera House, and brought it here to New York City to perform it as a benefit for Broadway Cares and Classical Action. They needed a female pianist, and Charlie recommended me! The performance was yet another success, and we ended up performing it at Windsor Castle and Salisbury Cathedral. It has now been captured on camera.
The musicians in this film, who are among the most amazing I have ever worked with, are:
SIMON KEENLYSIDE, baritone
SERGEJ KRYLOV, violin
IAIN BURNSIDE, piano
REBECCA EVANS, soprano
NATALIE CLEIN, cello
The narrator is the venerable Derek Jacobi.
I must tell you, that working with Sting and Trudie was one of the most inspiring and enlightening experiences of my life. They are both the most kind-hearted, generous, and fun people. In fact, they are so down-to-earth and engaging that one quickly begins to forget that one is in the presence of true celebrities!!
I know you will be moved by this beautiful story as have the audiences who have witnessed it, and I encourage you to buy this wonderful film. All of you will be generously supporting the aforementioned, extremely important cause.
April, 2008 Natasha was again named by KDFC 102.1 San Francisco radio station 2008 TOP 30 UNDER 30 "NEW GENERATION CLASSICAL" musician alongside Hilary Hahn, Julia Fischer, Gustavo Dudamel, Lang Lang, and others ... Click ... here ... for more information.
February 6 -7, 2008
Natasha steps in for an ailing Boris Berezovsky in Bostonian Bravo Series concerts, playing the Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No.1 with the National Arts Center Orchestra in Ottawa, Canada, with Arild Remmereit conducting. Photo Credit: Bruno Schlumberger, The Ottawa Citizen
December 18 - 20, 2007
Natasha will be participating along with Simon Keenlyside and Sergei Krylov in the filming of "Twin Spirits", a project starring Sting and Trudie Styler that explores the music and writing of Robert and Clara Schumann, which will be released on DVD. She has previously performed the piece several times with the co-creators in New York and the UK, all directed by John Caird, the director/adaptor of the musical Les Misérables. Photo Credit: Jay Brady for Broadway Cares / Equity Fights AIDS - TWIN SPIRITS
December 10, 2007
Natasha was a special guest performer at the "Innovator's Ball", an event honoring democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama that was held at the home of Judy and Steven Gluckstern.
October, 2007 Just out! Fred Hersch: Concert Music 2001-2006 on the Naxos label featuring performances by pianists Blair McMillen and Natasha Paremski; cellist Dorothy Lawson; and the Gramercy Trio.
September, 2007 A jury headed by Helene Grimaud has just announced Natasha as the recipient of the Prix Montblanc 2007, a prize that aims to award and encourage young classical music talents who have shown tremendous efforts and contributions to the development of arts and culture. The awards ceremony dedicated to the prize will take place in Berlin, Germany on October 10, 2007.
June, 2007 On June 23, Natasha stepped in at the last minute for an ailing Helene Grimaud at the Opening Night Gala Concert of the Caramoor Festival, playing the Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto #2 with the Orchestra of St. Luke's and Peter Oundjian conducting. In a press release, Ms. Grimaud stated, "My
friend, Natasha, is by far one of the most exciting young pianistic
talents I have ever known. Aside from the technical wizardy, she
possesses something that is so incredibly natural, yet rare ... her
own musical voice. I know you will be forever changed by this
performance." A few days later, Natasha filled in for Olga Kern at the Opening Night Gala of the Vail Valley Music Festival playing, also, the Rachmaninoff Paino Concerto #2, with the Rochester Philharmonic under Christopher Seaman. Photo Credit: Thomas McDonald for The New York Times
May, 2007 KDFC 102.1 Radio in San Francisco has named Natasha as a TOP 30 UNDER 30 "NEW GENERATION CLASSICAL" musician alongside Gustavo Dudamel, Hilary Hahn, Leila Josefowicz, and Lang Lang to name a few.
January, 2007 Natasha will be featured in a major two-part film for BBC Television on the life and work of Tchaikovsky, shot in St. Petersburg, Russia, in July/September 2006.
October 10, 2006 Natasha was announced winner at the Arts and Entertainment category of the "Tomorrow's Newsmakers Award" sponsored by 1010 WINS and New York Post.
In November 2006, Natasha will return to Great Britain to perform in "Twin Spirits", a project starring Sting and Trudie Styler and directed by John Caird, that explores the music and writing of Robert and Clara Schumann. Photo Credit: Jay Brady for Broadway Cares / Equity Fights AIDS - TWIN SPIRITS
- upcoming performance
June, 2009
February 6 -7, 2008
Natasha steps in for an ailing Boris Berezovsky in Bostonian Bravo Series concerts, playing the Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No.1 with the National Arts Center Orchestra in Ottawa, Canada, with Arild Remmereit conducting.
In November 2006, Natasha will return to Great Britain to perform in "Twin Spirits", a project starring Sting and Trudie Styler and directed by John Caird, that explores the music and writing of Robert and Clara Schumann.