News
On television: Pamela mentors Janet Street Porter!
Pamela v Janet
Pamela has been 'mentoring' Janet Street Porter for a series on Sky Arts television in which five celebrities take up the challenge of being coached on their 'first love' and performing in a London venue. Janet's programme will be shown as the last in the series in a few weeks time.
" I read in the Daily Mail newspaper today that Janet had me in tears and that I aged 20 years in the process of making this documentary. I don't remember any tears - maybe tears of laughter?!"
Teaching news
Recently Pamela has given masterclasses and workshops at the Genoa International Recorder Week in Italy, in Cordes, France, at the Centre for Early Music Performance and Research at Birmingham University, Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, Wells Cathedral School, Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in Wales, Cork School of Music in Ireland. Loule in the Algarve and at Jackdaws near Frome, Somerset.
From September Pamela will continue her role as Visiting Professor at at the GSMD by teaching three times a term, as well as giving lessons in York.
New music 2009/10
Pamela has plans to commission, perform and record a collection of new British (concerto-type) works for recorder and string quartet. Gavin Bryars is the first composer to agree to write for Pamela. She hopes to perform these new works across the UK and then record them for LINN Records.
Would you like to be involved in this project?
Do you think you might be able to help towards commissioning an important new work for recorder?
On my travels 2009
Pamela has just come back from Portugal playing with lutenist Elizabeth Kenny and viola da gamba player Susanne Heinrich in the Loule Festival where Pamela also gave a masterclass. The trio also performed their 'Grand Tourists' programme in the Yoxford Festival at the end of August. Pamela played a duo recital with Elizabeth Kenny near Beverley for the Recorder Summer School in August. They have reco rded a new CD of French Baroque repertoire entitled 'The Nightingale and the Butterfly' for LINN Records to be released in 2010. In October played Vivaldi sopranino concertos and the A minor recorder and bassoon sonata with Peter Whelan, bassoon and La Serenissima directed by Adrian Chandler in Malta at the Manuoel Theatre in Valletta and was kept busy over the summer with a number of concerto and chamber appearances with La Serenissima, Fiori Musicali and the Engish Concert ( including Wigmore Hall, Victoria and Albert Museum, Dartington Hall etc). Earlier in the year Pamela had the honour of giving a live BBC lunchtime recital EBU broadcast of Handel Sonatas from Handel House in London with Andrew Lawrence King, harp and Gary Cooper, harpsichord. Pamela also gave recitals in Ireland for the East Cork Early Music with harpist Andrew Lawrence-King and a solo recital at the Glucksmann Art Gallery.
New collaborations - the 'Grand Tourists' takes shape
The Grand Tourists continue their musical travels:
Pamela’s collaboration with jazz pianist Huw Warren continues to develop. In February this year Pamela, Huw and the extraordinary improvising bassist Peter Herbert gave a genre-hopping concert together in the Walthamstow Festival with guest vocalist and harmonium player Olivia Chaney.
Pamela gave a concert in Saltaire near Leeds in May with David McGuinness, harpsichord, Rachel Podger, violin and Olivia Chaney, harmonium and voice.
Huw will be joining Pamela along with Olivia Chaney, violinist Rachel Podger and percussionist Chris Wells for the launch of 'Ammonite' at the Greenwich Early Music Festival, London on November 13th with a programme of Pamela's own compositions and music new and old.
New departures
Since her decision to leave the Palladian Ensemble in Spring 2007, Pamela has been taking a break from foreign touring, enjoying time with her young family and planning new musical projects.
