UK pianist wins major film role

press release:

Pianist Clare Hammond will appear in the forthcoming film adaptation of Alan Bennett’s play, The Lady in the Van, as the younger version of Dame Maggie Smith’s character, Miss Shepherd. Clare performs in a number of flashback scenes recreating a Proms concert in the 1930s, and enacts Miss Shepherd’s experiences as a novice nun some years later.

Clare’s recording of excerpts from Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 1, with the BBC Concert Orchestra, is featured throughout the film. The slow movement of Chopin’s concerto and Clare’s performance of Schubert’s Impromptu in G flat major, are included on the soundtrack alongside music specially composed for the film by George Fenton, due for release by Sony on the 6 November 2015.