i love angel orensanz

Last evening I did a gorgeous, intimate ceremony at Angel Orensanz.  Because only immediate family was in attendance, Jung Lee http://www.feteny.com/ filled the space with hundreds of votive candles so that the entire room glittered.  She also brought in a beautiful black baby grand for me to play Chopin & Debussy for this quirky & sublimely elegant European couple.  

It's a fantastic & magical space, but you will definately need a great designer/planner. 

http://www.orensanzevents.com/

i love south carolina

This month I was invited to perform in my childhood town of Spartanburg, South Carolina. I had not been back to perform since I was 16 when I played the Schumann Piano Concerto with the Spartanburg Philharmonic.  Keith Plumley orchestrated the entire event which was at the beautiful Unitarian Universalist Church where he is Music Director. We did a program with 2 pianos (supplied by Case Brothers Pianos, mmmmwwaahhhh) violin & cello. My husband Jay Bianchi accompanied me on piano as well as Bonnie Lee Mizzell on violin & Ted Luckenburg on cello. They did an incredible job!

Local writer, Janice Baynes wrote a wonderful article promoting me which you can find at http://www.goupstate.com/article/20100715/ARTICLES/7151006/1097/entertainment?Title=Renowned-pianist-Bianchi-returns-for-rare-performance  Thank you Janice!

The audience was generous & incredibly appreciative.  It was truly a magical musical experience for me.  I sang mostly covers with our own interpretation and chose the songs to reflect the southern rock/pop music that I grew up listening to.  The Marshall Tucker Band is from Spartanburg, so I did a swampy, ethereal version of Toy Caldwell's CAN'T YOU SEE.  This song is a beautiful & haunting composition that The MTB made famous with their jangly guitars, earthy vocals and jazzy flute.  I was a little nervous about presenting it in such a stripped down, exposed manner, but it was received with open arms & enthusaism from this gracious southern audience. 

I can't wait to come back again and play.  I heart Spartanburg.

i love the manhattan penthouse

I just had a walkthrough today for one of our August brides and I adore the Manhattan Penthouse, located on 5th Avenue at 14th Street.  http://www.greenmansionscatering.com/penthouse.php?p=reception

The views are incredible and the architecture is classic New York.  Perfect for the DIY bride and more intimate events.  They are also one of the very few locations that maintain their lovely grand piano, which sounds fantastic in the space. For performing ceremonies and cocktail hours, it is a musician's dream come true.

i love perlman

I'm preparing for some solo concerts with orchestra and scanning my favorite film score music. I always come back to Itzhak Perlman's recording of the Theme from Schindler's List.  It's so melodic and heartfelt.  Perlman's performance just drips with emotion. 

I was fortunate during my studies at The Eastman School of Music to meet and play for Perlman. 

What an artist's artist.

i love christian oth photography

This photo is from the studio of Christian Oth of the New Orleans wedding that we did together. We end up on many of the same events and their photos are always fresh & stunning. They are one of my favorite photo studios ever.  http://www.christianothstudio.com/

i love joshua bell

For one of our August brides, I was searching for new inspiritation with Puccini's O MIO BABBINO CARO .  I stumbled across this version performed by Joshua Bell. 

In the words of Rachel Zoe.....

I die.

i love Jungle Design

During the summer in my neighborhood of Williamsburg, they block off Bedford Avenue and have all kinds of street vendors set up.  One of the local garden deigners JUNGLE set up patches of sod featuring & sharing their beautiful potted plants for the weekend along with vintage chaise loungers. We had a lovely picnic on the grass right in the middle of Bedford Avenue! 

Thank you JUNGLE!! 

You must visit their beautiful design shop at 61 Kent Avenue (N. 10th & N. 11th Streets)  http://www.jungledesignnyc.com/.  They have amazing artistry with their greenery & remarkable prices.  If you are a DIY bride or simply want help with your garden, you must pay them a visit.