The Newsletter of Pianist Nada April 2023 Special Edition
Pianist Nada is currently booking performances for 2023-24 and beyond of a new Concerto for Piano and Orchestra that she recently commissioned from two-time GRAMMY® Award-winning composer Fernando Otero.
Nada writes about the piece that she commissioned from Otero, “I have been very impressed with Fernando's work and ability to encompass such a wide range and diverse variety of music. I am so excited to be entrusted with this new work for piano and orchestra and looking forward to sharing it with everyone.“
A United States citizen of Lebanese/Hungarian descent, Pianist Nada is a native of Beirut, Lebanon. Her piano training was hampered by the unrelenting civil war and terrorism which also cost her mother’s life. Since then, she has created a career with tremendous depth and breadth.
She has performed internationally from concert halls at Salle Gaveau in Paris, Severance Hall in Cleveland, Yamaha Hall in Tokyo, Auditorium de Radio-France, Assembly Hall (AUB), and venues such as Louisville orchestra, Lakeside Symphony, Lebanese National Philharmonic, Belgrade Chamber Orchestra, Dayton Arts Institute, Eastman School of Music, Salzburg Festival, Montpellier Festival to educational and pioneering venues, schools, hospitals and prisons. “My passion has defined me as a communicative performer with a unique musical personality. Music is my first language and I have a deep love for it”. She has recorded the complete solo piano works by Johannes Brahms.
See her here performing an excerpt of Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue, beginning with the soloists' entrance.
Visit www.pianistnada.com for more information about her.
The composer says, "Composing a new piece is usually for me the beginning of a new friendly challenge, always searching to renew previous beliefs, understanding that each composition has its own working procedure."
"At the time of writing this work for Pianist Nada, I had the opportunity to find inspiration in her expressiveness and artistic stature, her lyricism and precise rhythmic drive. After finishing the whole piece, I made the decision to write it again completely. My feeling was that I could go further in terms of audacity and rhythm. Enthusiasm and gratitude were very present throughout the entire process, and I am happily looking forward to seeing and hearing Pianist Nada in a concert hall premiering this piece very soon."
Argentiean-born composer Fernando Otero is a two-time GRAMMY®-winning Argentine composer, pianist, and vocalist based in New York City. He has been described by many critics as a composer who developed his own style by blending elements of classical contemporary music and improvisation while acknowledging Tango as a starting point. He found his voice when he began to incorporate the indigenous sounds of his native Buenos Aires into his work. Hear his Ritual Overture here.
He has received commissions from performers and institutions worldwide and has written music for orchestra, chamber ensembles, string quartet, and choir, as well as for solo instruments including piano, violin, and cello, and movie soundtracks.
Otero has recorded 16 albums as a composer and solo artist. His works are published by Warner Chappell Music and his albums have been released by Nonesuch Records, Warner Music, Harmonia Mundi, and World Village. Visit him at www.fernandootero.com/.
