Play It Forward – Natasha Adamson
Meet Natasha Adamson, one of All Classical Radio’s Summer/Fall 2025 interns. We asked Natasha to share some pieces of music that she loves and have stuck with her throughout the years. Here are a few of her selections.
Camille Saint-Saëns’ Danse Macabre
As a lover of all things spooky and scary, I’ve always found myself drawn to this gorgeous symphonic poem composed by Camille Saint-Saëns. The story goes that Death appears each year at midnight on Hallows Eve and calls the dead forth to dance to the tune of his fiddle. While not exactly as exciting as a dancing skeleton, this song accompanied many a midnight study session where I certainly felt as though I had one foot in the grave.
Hans Zimmer’s and Stephen Schwartz’s “Deliver Us” from The Prince of Egypt
The opening number to the iconic movie The Prince of Egypt, I found myself re-watching this scene over and over again as a child. It seamlessly switches between heavy, dramatic percussion, and a devastating vocal line shared by Israeli singer Ofra Haza and Disney actress Eden Riegel.
Ramin Djawadi’s The Rains of Castamere (Instrumental)
The Rains of Castamere is a piece written for Game of Thrones, a TV adaptation of George R.R. Martin’s book series “A Song of Ice and Fire.” As an avid reader I’ve developed a love for this epic TV drama. A hauntingly beautiful piece with a sinister backstory, this instrumental version takes the cake.
Tomas Luis de Victoria’s O Magnum Mysterium
I got the pleasure of performing this piece at my university’s yearly Advent Concert. A serene melody weaves between all 4 parts creating a lush texture. A lively “Alleluia” section ends the piece and ensures you’ll be itching to listen to it again.
“Очи чёрные (Black Eyes)” performed by The Red Army Choir
Some of my favorite memories from childhood are of my grandma and me in the car singing together. One of her favorites, Очи чёрные is originally a Russian romance song, or sentimental art song. This version features a soloist singing about the black, beautiful, burning eyes of his love and was popularized by Russian singer Feodor Chaliapin.
Mozart’s “Non So Piu Cosa Son, Cosa Faccio”
One of the first operatic arias I ever learned, I immediately fell in love with the love-struck character of Cherubino. His anxious and childish nature brings so much fun to this already hilarious comic opera, and this piece will always have a place in my heart.
About Natasha
I am a fourth-year student at the University of Portland aiming to complete my degree in Arts Administration with a minor in Music Performance. I have always had a passion for singing, so having the privilege of studying classical music has been life changing. I especially appreciate the time I have spent performing in the University of Portland Singers and the Chamber Choir. A new major at UP, Arts Administration is a unique blend of performing arts experience and rigorous studying involving diverse fields like accounting, marketing, and operations management. In the future, I would like to help provide a solid foundation for all the talented artists here in Portland by further developing my experience with administrative work. Outside of the office, you are likely to find me hitting the trails, painting in the local parks, or laying in a hammock with a good book.