Schedule
HostsWays to Give
HomePlaylistSchedule
HostsEventsOn DemandOur StoryOur TeamWays to Give Become a Sponsor
How to ListenVisit Help CenterContact Us

Find Us on Social Media:

Logo image

Find Us on Social Media:

Download Our Mobile App:

google play icon

About

HomePlaylistSchedule
HostsOn DemandOur StoryOur Team

Community

EventsWays to Give Become a SponsorPressDiversity StatementCareersAnnual EEO ReportDigital Accessibility

Help

Visit Help CenterContact UsHow to Listen

©2025 Classical California

Sweepstakes RulesFCC ComplianceLocal Public FilesCPB ComplianceAnnual EEO ReportPrivacy PolicyCode of Integrity

articles / Classical Californians

Classical Californians: Nicole Paiement

Classical CaliforniansConducting

This week’s Classical Californian is conductor Nicole Paiement, the Founder and Artistic Director of the Bay Area’s Opera Parallèle, which spotlights brand-new and lesser-known works. In addition to premiering operas, they have also been responsible for creating chamber versions of new works (like John Harbison’s The Great Gatsby and Terence Blanchard’s Champion) that allow the pieces to reach a wider audience. Paiement is also Principal Guest Conductor at the Dallas Opera, where she’s a mentor at the Hart Institute for Women Conductors.

She’s selected a symphonic and jazz hybrid piece by Terence Blanchard inspired by Hurricane Katrina; a raucous work for organ and percussion by Lou Harrison; the haunting finale of Poulenc’s Dialogues of the Carmelites; a meditative choral work by Joby Talbot; and an art song by Benjamin Britten that perfectly tells a story in 3 minutes.

She begins with a work about Hurricane Katrina by Terence Blanchard that brings jazz and symphonic styles together. Click the play button to hear her introduction!

Classical Californians: Nicole Paiement
00:00

Then it’s some raucous music by Lou Harrison, the finale of his Organ Concerto…

Classical Californians: Nicole Paiement
00:00

For the harrowing and haunting finale of the opera Dialogues of the Carmelites, Francis Poulenc recreates the sound of the falling blade of the guillotine as the nuns who refuse to renounce their faith are executed by France’s Reign of Terror.

Classical Californians: Nicole Paiement
00:00

British composer Joby Talbot wrote the meditative Path Of Miracles, a choral work inspired by the pilgrimage in Spain known as the Camino Santiago – the faithful walk from one holy site to another…

Classical Californians: Nicole Paiement
00:00

Her last selection is a perfect ‘mini-opera’ art song by Benjamin Britten: “The Choirmaster’s Burial” from Winter Words:

Classical Californians: Nicole Paiement
00:00

And some closing thoughts…

Classical Californians: Nicole Paiement
00:00

Classical CaliforniansConducting
Written by:
The Classical Team
The Classical Team
Published on 11.15.2023
Loading...