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Nadine Benjamin |
Nadine Benjamin
Nicole Panizza
Listen here
https://www.mixcloud.com/Resonance/a-world-in-london-30th-october-2019/
It was a privilege to welcome back
super soprano Nadine Benjamin and her partner-in-rhyme, pianist
Nicole Panizza! Together, the pair have crafted a new album
illuminating the works of nineteenth century American poet Emily
Dickinson and it's a beaut! 'Emergence' is a complex album in many
ways. Firstly because of its central muse, Emily Dickinson, and her
own multifaceted, connected yet disconnected story of empathy with
nature and humanity, yet latter years spent in solitude. Nicole and
Nadine identify with Emily on many levels and applaud her as ‘a
voice for what it means to be human.’ They describe their own
reclusive periods required to enable the creative process,
counterpointed with performances in front of huge audiences.
Secondly, Emergence features a surrounding cast of five composers
plus our two intrepid interpreters - Nadine and Nicole, not to
mention studio engineers and various technical bods. A lot goes on
behind the scenes in the making of most music and some of that is
explained in this interview. Nadine and Nicole shed light on their
process of releasing Emergence - raising funds, engaging sponsors and
supporters, steering the PR campaign, but finding freedom and
liberating self-determination along the way. As Nicole says, ‘The
power of creating your dream.’
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Nicole Panizza |
The synchronicity between Nicole and
Nadine is apparent, and since they formed a partnership two years
ago, it's blossomed into Emergence Music. Nicole has the piano, her
classical music credentials, plus a scholarly lust for in-depth
research into her subject matter. Nadine has that rare &
incredible voice plus unique charisma that can shift
mountains and hearts. She has no classical music training yet has
forged a path into the upper echelons of the opera world from her
council estate background. Whilst we were both working in Greece in
September, I saw Nadine move people to tears with her singing, and
witnessed her powerful voice fill the sky in a large open-air
theatre, unamplified by a microphone. People relate to Nadine because
'she's one of us', bringing ‘opera to the masses’, and she
affirms this by describing herself as a people's person.
Emergence is out now on Stone Records
and Nadine & Nicole will be launching it at a concert near you
soon, but meanwhile catch them on Dec 1st at Blackheath Halls at what
they refer to as 'just a performance'. It'll be way more than that,
and well worth emerging for at 11am on a Sunday morning!
Also on
this show, tracks by Brazilian choro masters Alvorada Music &
young Hackney soul-jazz band Kiki and the Tiger. Production &
pics by Norman Druker, artist Alban Low, Sophie
Darling, and DJ Ritu. Sound by Patrick Bernard and Resonance
104.4fm.
#London #globalmusic #livemusic #music #radio #djritu #Emergence #NadineBenjamin #NicolePanizza #singer #soprano #vocalist #pianist #piano #ClassicalMusic #poetry #poems #coach #mentor Karen
Pitchford Women in Music #WomenInMusic #EqualisingMusic