Chamber Music Maryland presents cellist Natalie Clein at The Octagon

Moving from the timeless beauty of Bach to deeply personal works of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, this intimate recital reveals the cello as both storyteller and song. The program features The Song of the Birds, a traditional Catalan carol arranged by legendary cellist Pablo Casals. Born in El Vendrell, Catalonia, Casals left Spain after Franco’s victory in 1939 and settled in Prades, France. He refused to return while Franco remained in power and performed the gentle melody throughout his exile as an expression of love for his homeland and an appeal for peace and freedom. In 1971, at age 94, Casals played The Song of the Birds in the United Nations General Assembly as a spontaneous message of hope.

Following the concert, join us for a wine-and-sweets reception and the opportunity to meet Natalie Clein.

Described by The Times as “mesmerising” and “soaringly passionate,” British cellist Natalie Clein has built a distinguished international career, performing with leading orchestras and at major venues worldwide. In 2021, she was awarded an OBE for services to music.

Clein has appeared with orchestras including the Philharmonia, Hallé, City of Birmingham Symphony, Montréal Symphony, Orchestre National de Lyon, and New Zealand Symphony, working with conductors such as Sir Mark Elder, Leonard Slatkin, and Daniel Harding. She is also an acclaimed recitalist and chamber musician, collaborating with artists including Martha Argerich, Ian Bostridge, Imogen Cooper, and Leif Ove Andsnes.

In 2024, Clein premiered a new concerto by Deirdre Gribbin with the Ulster Orchestra. Her recordings for Hyperion have received numerous accolades, including a Diapason d’Or and Gramophone Disc of the Month.

Artist's Website: About | Natalie Clein

The mission of Chamber Music Maryland is to present the finest national and international chamber music ensembles and soloists, to provide young people with a stimulating introduction to the performing arts, and to reach out to those with limited opportunities to experience the arts.