Here is a trailer for the French movie I recently played in the soundtrack for. That's me screeching around in the background.
Do not take your grandparents to see this film.....
click here
Saturday 26 December 2009
New Year's Blog
As it is coming to that time of year again, I thought I'd write my very own 'review of the year blog'.
Much has happened for me in 2009. For one, a move to a new country- meant as a brief change of scenery originally but, as the cliche so often goes, when the time came to leave we just didn't want to. We seem quite comfortably installed in Paris now, my taste for nutella and banana crepes not diminishing, and with still a huge appetite for this beautiful city. I'm definitely becoming a little more blaze about the Eurostar than is tasteful- I went to London today just for lunch which was great fun but completely unreasonable.
This year was also notable personally for the relaunch of my record label, with a major worldwide distribution deal and four new albums, one of which was my own first concerto recording. Each of the albums was incredibly well received, thank goodness, and over the coming year we are working on recordings with a whole list of world class artists, from Joan Rodgers to Guy Johnston.
I also started my first teaching post, at the brilliant Malmo academy in Sweden, which has quickly become one of the most important parts of my musical life. The academy is extremely dynamic and forward thinking, and I'm thrilled to be part of it. I have also found a sadistic pleasure in making my students play scales in octaves in front of each other.
Concert highlights have been many but have included some really special ones. Taking part in a wonderful concert at Cadogen Hall, to raise money for Pancreatic Cancer UK, was one. The evening was promoted by my good friend and partner in Orchid Classics, James Brown, who made the whole thing look easy (which it isn't) and raised £40,000 in one night.
Another was touring Holland with the LSSO, an experience which on the one hand reminded me how glad I am not to be 17 anymore, but on the other made me wish I was. The disco on the last night had to be seen to be believed, and was worth the trip alone. Highlight of that tour- my suitcase getting lost by the airline on the way out, and having 2 hours in which to spend £700 insurance money on 'emergency' clothes, racing round the shops with natural born shopper (and conductor) Peter Ash.
And now I sit with my family, discussing my new year's resolutions, which I never keep any of.
Happy new year to everyone out there.
Much has happened for me in 2009. For one, a move to a new country- meant as a brief change of scenery originally but, as the cliche so often goes, when the time came to leave we just didn't want to. We seem quite comfortably installed in Paris now, my taste for nutella and banana crepes not diminishing, and with still a huge appetite for this beautiful city. I'm definitely becoming a little more blaze about the Eurostar than is tasteful- I went to London today just for lunch which was great fun but completely unreasonable.
This year was also notable personally for the relaunch of my record label, with a major worldwide distribution deal and four new albums, one of which was my own first concerto recording. Each of the albums was incredibly well received, thank goodness, and over the coming year we are working on recordings with a whole list of world class artists, from Joan Rodgers to Guy Johnston.
I also started my first teaching post, at the brilliant Malmo academy in Sweden, which has quickly become one of the most important parts of my musical life. The academy is extremely dynamic and forward thinking, and I'm thrilled to be part of it. I have also found a sadistic pleasure in making my students play scales in octaves in front of each other.
Concert highlights have been many but have included some really special ones. Taking part in a wonderful concert at Cadogen Hall, to raise money for Pancreatic Cancer UK, was one. The evening was promoted by my good friend and partner in Orchid Classics, James Brown, who made the whole thing look easy (which it isn't) and raised £40,000 in one night.
Another was touring Holland with the LSSO, an experience which on the one hand reminded me how glad I am not to be 17 anymore, but on the other made me wish I was. The disco on the last night had to be seen to be believed, and was worth the trip alone. Highlight of that tour- my suitcase getting lost by the airline on the way out, and having 2 hours in which to spend £700 insurance money on 'emergency' clothes, racing round the shops with natural born shopper (and conductor) Peter Ash.
And now I sit with my family, discussing my new year's resolutions, which I never keep any of.
Happy new year to everyone out there.
Tuesday 15 December 2009
Recording
Last week I spent a really enjoyable, if totaly exhausting few days recording a new album with two amazing musicians- violist Lawrence Power and pianist Simon Crawford-Philips. The repertoire included Brahms horn trio (with Lawrence on the horn) and Bax trio.
There were times when it seemed we weren't going to make it out alive, as 3 neurotic musicians in a room with microphones can make for a stressful situation, but we were all pretty happy by the end.
Working title for the album is 'Bax Against The Wall' but that might have to change if the grown-ups don't like it.
You can see pictures from the sessions here:
http://www.orchidclassics.blogspot.com/
There were times when it seemed we weren't going to make it out alive, as 3 neurotic musicians in a room with microphones can make for a stressful situation, but we were all pretty happy by the end.
Working title for the album is 'Bax Against The Wall' but that might have to change if the grown-ups don't like it.
You can see pictures from the sessions here:
http://www.orchidclassics.blogspot.com/
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