Pianist Nathaniel LaNasa discovers fresh possibilities of sonority and gesture in music — especially in music being written NOW. He has premiered works for quarter-tone pianos by Dimitri Tymoczko at Princeton, made first recordings of chamber works by Tobias Picker for Tzadik, and workshopped Hannah Lash’s most recent opera at Columbia’s Miller Theater. Works written for him include Tyler Harrison’s piano concerto, a protest song by Shawn Jaeger, and Molly Joyce’s YouSaidHeSaidSheSaid for voice and singing keyboardist. A consummate collaborator, he has been praised for his “stormy lyricism” (The New York Times), his “poise and elegance” and “deft sense of precision” (Feast of Music).
Exploring intersections of storytelling, speech, and movement, Nate frequently partners with vocalist Lucy Dhegrae. The duo is committed to building a new repertoire that challenges conventions of the voice and piano partnership. They have performed in the crypt of NYC’s Church of the Intercession, at LA ArtShare, and on the Resonant Bodies Festival at Roulette (Brooklyn). Nate also performs regularly with baritone Gregory Feldmann. Together, they took First Prize in the 2019 Joy in Singing International Art Song Competition and made their Weill Hall debut in February 2020. “The magic,” Nate says, “lies in expanding the spaces of our shared inspiration. For me, it’s all about and dancing with the tension and flow of musical dialogue.”
In demand as as opera and vocal coach, Nate accompanied the first performance of William Antoniou’s opera about Alan Turing, Anathema. A staff pianist at the Juilliard School, he plays for a wide range of the voice department’s activities, from the mainstage opera rehearsals to classes in the Artist Diploma of Opera Studies program.
NYC credits include Alice Tully Hall, MoMA, and (le) Poisson Rouge. A graduate of the Manhattan School of Music and Juilliard, Nate was awarded fellowships at Tanglewood, Music Academy of the West, and Stephanie Blythe’s Fall Island Vocal Arts Seminar. This summer he joined the coaching staff at Berlin Opera Academy.
Blog: Mixed Metaphors
