Future Classic Women Awards – Special Tribute To The Duke Of Edinburgh, Prince Philip

Hello and welcome to Future Classic Women Awards with me, Stefania Passamonte on women's radio station. The program where we search for the most amazing new female artist on the classical panorama. Today is a very special episode and on behalf of the women's men's registration, we would like to follow the national mourning and offer our tribute to the life and death of his Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh by dedicating this special episode of Future Classic Win awards to to her Majesty the Queen, the Royal family and the nation. Our very special guests are the lovely Joanna Forest, winner of the very first edition of Future Classic Women Awards and composer Olga Thomas, with whom they composed and reached the top of the charts with the wonderful song Royal Platinum Love Song, dedicated to her Majesty the Queen and his Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh for their platinum wedding anniversary. Good morning, good morning, good morning, good morning. Olga and Joanna, so pleased to have you here on women's radio station. How is, how are you today? Oh, we're good. Thank you so much for asking us onto your station. It's so lovely to be chatting with you. It's wonderful. Thank you so much for inviting us. We are delighted. And putting our strengths together, we make the world, I think, a better place. Absolutely, absolutely. Now I would like to ask you, the whole country is mourning for the death of His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh, who was an incredible person and had a wonderful life dedicated to charity and to. To the environment and to so many wonderful social causes. What inspired you, Olga, to compose the song Royal Platinum Love Song? Royal Platinum Love Song. Well, I tell you that for me, the relationship between Her Majesty and late Prince Philip is very inspirational and I wanted to commemorate such a beautiful love story of 21st century. I always was admiring this relationship. I love the idea of traditional commitment which seems to be maybe less common these days. For me they are symbol of everlasting love through reflection of what in my mind a marriage really should be when two people working together as one. A long term commitment to each other and values. Those values I hold very dear. And I wanted to compose a song for that event. Beautiful event. Platinum 70 years together. I wanted to compose a song to reflect this and to be full of passion, dramatic, hot, almost cinematic, you know, epic, timeless piece to commemorate. Absolutely. And the song is absolutely beautiful. And Joanna, for you, what was singing this incredible song? Oh, it was such a beautiful song, isn't it? It was just so fantastic to be involved. I mean, Olga has created something so fabulous and I really think it sums up the song just is so beautiful, like their beautiful relationship. And it was really exc. Because it was recorded at the wonderful Angel Studios with a full orchestra, which is always breathtaking and always a wonderful thing to be there when an orchestra is recording. And I loved singing alongside Daniel Cook, who has just got the most dreamy voice. I mean, in my opinion, I feel you don't get much better than Daniel Cook. I just adore listening to him singing. So to sing the duet with him was wonderful, wonderful. And it just all came together so beautifully. And I've. I've. All the. The Royal family has. Has. Has always been sort of a backdrop to our lives. And the Queen and Prince Philip have, you know, they've. They've been there for. For all our lives. And my school, because I went to a stage school, we got to take part in things like the Children's Royal Variety Performance and the raw variety part in something called the Queen's 40 glorious years, which when. Show my age now, which is when she'd been queen for 40 years, and we. And it was always really exciting because there'd always be, at the end of the show, everyone who'd taken part would always go back on the stage and you'd get the really famous people, like, whether it be like Cliff Richard or Lulu or Take that or somebody. And then, you know, we'd be at the back standing very nicely on our best behavior, and then we'd see the royal. The royal family shaking hands, hands with the stars. And it was always really exciting. And I remember one year, Prince Charles came and said hello to us and said, isn't it past your bedtime? And sort of chuckled and it was really exciting. And I think that's why it's so dramatic when one of them leaves us and the whole of the country is united in just this grief. And everybody's thoughts are, of course, you know, thinking about how the Queen must be feeling right now after, you know, having somebody in your life for all those years, which is just so amazing. But now she just must be feeling. Feeling the void. So I think everybody's thinking of her, aren't they? Absolutely. Sorry, Olga. Yes, absolutely, absolutely. Totally agree with every word Joanna said. Absolutely. You know, yes. From my point of view, I mean, the Royal family, apart from the fairy tale of being royals, you know, the history that is behind this incredible family and is, in a way, you know, the image of this fantastic country of which I'm very proud to become a citizen, you know, with all the values and the beauty and, you know, the keep calm and carry on in the dramatic moment and the funny moment as well and the support of the art. It's a very special feeling, the whole idea of the royal family. But then you see Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip and they. I think they guided their life like in a way, like the mother and the father of the country. And it's a bit like losing a grandpa, isn't it? So. Yes. When you've lost yours not too long ago, that feeling just comes back straight away and it gets amplified because everyone is feeling the same. Oh, absolutely. Like to. I totally agree. I think that's. That's, you know, that's so lovely saying they were like the mother and the father of the country. I think it really did feel like that. Yes, it's beautifully put, Stefania. Really beautifully put. Because we all feel this way and I read a lot of people comments on social media and even some people who are not so much keen on the royal family as an idea. They still absolutely love our royal family. I'm very strongly keen on the royal family, as I did for me it is, you know, being from Russia, I hold the royal family very dear to my heart. But that is interesting that a lot of people were saying that they feel like it is member of family died. Somebody was saying like. Like grandfather. Because a lot of people had all their life having them in their. In their. In our lives. But mother and the father of the country. It's absolutely beautifully put. That is what I feel. Yes. Well, on these words, how about then we listen the wonderful song that you composed and dedicated to their love. That is what we all admire and aspire really. Let's listen to the Royal Love Platinum Love Song. Two people in a play that ran the whole life through all along the way the long has Dream 2 characters today who nearer der are through to share every scene on cue to people in a play so glad. Together into. Love so little to regret with every dawn the day lights up and he sa. Satan. You so much. Sam. Satan sa. How wonderful. And this was the Royal Platinum Love Song, composed by Olga Thomas and sang by the beautiful Joanna Forest, dedicated to the Royal Platinum wedding anniversary. Olga, actually you had the pleasure to present the cd. Did it include this song to Her Majesty the Queen? This song I did not have a chance to present myself. It was presented by the wonderful charity Cruise Bereavement Care where Her Majesty is Royal patron and I'm their resident composer, which is a great honor, this very piece. But I presented to Her Majesty my first album which included the piece dedicated to the memory of her mother. Themes of life and Glory dedicated to the memory of Queen Mother. And that was done in St James's Palace. But this piece was given as presented by Kruse Berit Mitke. But palace was wonderful writing. Very special letter which I cherish and it means so much to me because it was sent to every member of the royal family. And it was wonderful. Well, the music is so beautiful and the cause as well, the cruise berthman care. I think it's something very special if people don't know about this wonderful charity. It's a charity dedicated to people in grief for the loss of someone they loved. And they had a wonderful message on their page in tribute to his Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh. And they wrote that when someone well known dies, it can be hugely distressing, particularly because their sense of grief for them will then bring up feelings of your own and you can feel then the grief more acutely. So it was beautiful. They have an open line for anyone that it's feeling like these and would like to talk with someone. How did you get involved with this wonderful charity? You know, I got involved. One of the trustees of that charity, Carol Forth, she. She was on the committee when they were discussing CRU's Jubilee, which was. It was Golden Jubilee was approaching and Her Majesty kindly was hosting it in St James's palace as being such a special patron of the charity. And they were discussing what to present to Her Majesty as a gift. And Carol said that I'm sure Her Majesty has everything. Why don't we give her a gift of music? And she suggested that committee listen to my piece which I composed on the death of the Queen Mother, which is called Themes of Life and Glory. Piece of celebration of life again. Yes. Yeah. And they decided that it is so appropriate because it is about grief, about dealing with the grief, about all loss and for Cruise and for this wonderful event. And it was decided to make it an official gift from to Her Majesty. And when it was sent to the palace, then later decision was made that it will be presented on the day on the event. I didn't even expect it to be invited because I thought I composed the music, but I was told that I'm invited. But while being in the palace, it was very special experience because I was asked before that to arrange few pieces for Royal Harpies to play during the event. My other pieces, five pieces. And it was done. I entered the palace and I heard my music. The first thing I heard when I entered St. James's palace for the first time in my life I had tears in my eyes and it was like nothing else. And then I was told that it will be me personally myself who will be actually given the CD to Her Majesty. That I never expected. And it was something unforgettable. And since then Cruise started this amazing unique music program. I'm the resident composer and for every event of the royal family, I compose the piece which Cruise presents. And it goes like private musical gifts for the royal household. That's what I'm doing. And then all proceeds are going to the charity. And we're very lucky because a lot of these pieces became number one in the classical church. So they obviously are very popular. So sales are doing well and a lot of money goes to the charity. And it gives me such a great pleasure that music brings funds to the charity. That is I think what is so beautiful about it, so wonderful. Well, as you said, I mean there is no better gift than to give your soul in a way. And I think that's what you do when you compose a piece or when you sing a song and when you put your soul to art, any type of art. So I think there is now more unique gift than these. The committee in the Cruise trust, I couldn't, couldn't really think of any better and well done to them. How beautiful. This is something that is actually always been part of the life of musician for histories. We know all the composers that they were composing, residence in the court of the Austrian Emperor for example, the Italian Queen and King and the same in France, in England a lot. It's something that somehow makes this unique connection and privilege. So the privilege of the royal family to give this gift for everyone to cherish and cultivate for centuries for the life to come. Yes, it's wonderful. And you know what, it just. I remembered that Her Majesty's 90th birthday, how it was celebrated, it just so self telling that it was patron's lunch. It was celebration of the charities which patron of so many charities that was I think 600 charities. So that is how her Majesty to choose to celebrate her birthday 90th. Isn't it so beautiful? And it was amazing day. I was invited, they're very honored to be invited with Bruce. And it was rainy day and we all were wearing this, you know like we all were covered. And I looked at us, it looked like witness protection program. To be honest. We all look like that. And then William said okay, come on little rain, we're British, what is the problem? And everybody sort of removed witness protection program. And then, and then Her Majesty and Prince Philip appeared and this miracle happened. Honestly, I witnessed it and I even photographed it, because I have asked all photographed in witness protection, when you cannot see. And then suddenly it is bright sky. Her Majesty and Prince Philip are appearing. And yesterday I was looking at these pictures from that event. I was showing it to my husband and he said, but it was such a rainy day, remember? So why it is so bright? Is it Photoshop? I said, no, it's not a Photoshop. It is a miracle. It's so magical. Majesty and Prince Philip appeared and they were smiling and waving and some came out. Once it happened in Moskowchikovsky Conservatory when it was lectured was horrible weather. And then music came. It was by Prokofiev. And suddenly came sun. Sun came. I remember I had twice witnessed. Absolutely. It happened to me too. You know, sometimes you're talking about something very special and suddenly, you know, it's a cloudy day and the sun comes out. Yeah, it's so weird because it cannot come out right that moment, because you're talking about that. But somehow there is a connection. Yes, there is a connection. And I think if we all put our goodwill, our positivity together, it shows how we can change the world through art and through everything. And speaking of patrons lunch, I remember that for that event we released a whole album for the benefit of Cruise called Jubilation. And it had then 12 of my royal pieces. And it was very special for that event again to do whole album of my royal pieces. And then after that, new came, which is Royal Platinum that hasn't yet been included. Hopefully I'm going to include it to my next royal album for next wonderful jubilee, which will be next year since Her Majesty became the Queen. Fantastic. Oh, wow. I can't wait to listen to it then. It's gonna be beautiful. Now, I'd like to ask you, how did you meet with Joanna? Oh, how did I meet with Joanna? I tell you the truth. That Royal Platinum, which you heard I was composing, having Joanna's voice in my head, in my mind. I don't mean in a schizophrenic way. Yes, but imagination. Imagination. Creative imagination. I heard Joanna and I fell in love with Joanna's voice. And you know what I call Joanna? I call her Joanna from Enchanted Forest. Yeah, that's what I call Joanna. And when I try to explain, if I put it in, it's difficult. You cannot sometimes find the right word to describe beauty, because whatever it is, it's not good enough. But Joanna's unique voice, I find that some beautiful sopranos voices, they sort of penetrate in a wonderful way. Strong penetration in Joanna's way for me. She envelops you with her voice in the Blanket of Love. And you are covered in this magic and you cannot understand. And you are just surrounded by that. It is so gentle. It envelopes you. That's how I hear Joanna's voice. Absolutely unique voice. And I fell in love with that voice. And I was composing having Joanna and Daniel voices as a duet for Royal Platz, because I heard them at, I think it was Bertwick Promes where I heard them first. And then I started listening to Joanna everywhere. It was where it was available. And I was finding even old recordings like oh Holy Night, I think one of them. Yes, yes. And I was just. I just thought, that is so, so special. And I composed this song, was composing it, having Johannes and Daniel's voice in my mind. And once I found out that Joanna and Daniel, they were happy to do it, I was absolutely delighted. And after our Royal Platinum love Song, I somehow caught myself that I'm composing next visit. I again hear Joanna's voice in my head. And I love this addiction to that enchanted forest and this magic. It is an addiction, but it's a good addiction. It got us together so far, three consecutive classical number one in the charts. So I think it works well. Absolutely. I enjoyed working with Joanna. I tell you, Joanna, she actually delivers the soul of my music. It's not just, you know, beautiful voice music. She delivers soul of my piece. And that is so special about Joanna's way. That's so nice. Olga. I love singing your wonderful compositions. I do. Everything you create and compose is just so beautiful. So it's always an honor for me to sing your. Your wonderful songs. And I'm always motivated to composing something and thinking, oh, I imagine how we will record it with Joanne and that is good enough as a motivation. Very inspirational. Yeah. It's very lucky to find somebody so write for my music. Beautifully delivers and conveys the soul and heart of my music. My compositions. Wonderful. Well, the next song we're gonna listen to is By My Side. Let's listen to it first and then we're gonna talk about it. Yes. You walk beside me Like a shining light. From the sunrise to the the sunset of our love. Cold traveled through me when we said our last goodbye. I know you're still by my side. Your soul beside me. You're my guiding light above Magical sunrise Till the moon bows to our love. Now in the evening when we have to say goodbye. I know you're still by my side. Dreams and a million more Reflect memories I still hold I dream you're by my side and will always follow you Till rivers of our lives take me over distant seas Just somewhere your heart is and the place you wait for me Jesus I. Will meet again someday. I will meet again someday. Sa. And this was By My Side, composed by Olga Thomas and sang by the beautiful Joanna Forest. I heard the military tambourine in the song. Is this connected as well to the Royal family in a way, or. Yes, it was composed. This piece was composed to celebrate next big jubilee for Cruise Bereavement Care 10 years. For me, it was my own anniversary of 10 years working for Cruise. But Cruise we met. And when I wrote my first piece, Themes of Life and Glory, it was for their Golden Jubilee. 50 years and 60 years. They again celebrated it at St. James's Palace. And it was another time when I was very privileged to see Her Majesty being invited there. And for that event I composed a piece by my side, which the idea was Eternal Love. That basically in which way it is connected to the Royal family. It is connected as royal patron of Cruise. It was written for Cruise, but it was sent as a special gift to the Royal family. And considering that losing loved ones, it is something which never can be avoided. And that is why I would say Cruises charity for everyone. And now we can see that is an example now such a huge loss and void for the Royal Family with Prince Philip. And so that piece was composed for Cruz and delivered to the palace as a gift to the Royal Family as Royal patron of Cru. The idea is main philosophy of how not to leave the person who died behind, but how to take them on your life journey through memories, through belief. Because it is for everyone. It is. There are people who are religious, there are people who are tasting. But we always have an option to keep people in our life. And I don't mean it in an unhealthy way. I mean in a healthy way, in a positive memories. And that is the idea of Cruise. How not to leave behind. How to keep people we love in our mind, in our memories, on our life journey. And that is why I wanted to create a positive piece of eternal love, which basically doesn't disappear once we lose loved one who leave us for another world. So that is what is the piece about that's so beautiful. That's such a wonderful sort of sentiment and philosophy. And I think you're such the perfect partnership Olga with Cruise. Because music is healing. And I think that these pieces of music that you're creating are really helping heal people. And I just think that's like an incredible. An incredible thing. And it is the perfect partnership. And it's so exciting as well, that it's taken you to the palace on numerous occasions. That's just really exciting. I would like to ask you, does the excitement wears down once you do so many times, or are you like, I'm here again? No, I think that is sort of healthy excitement, which has a prolonged effect. Yeah. Were you nervous at all? I think I would be quite nervous because I know that there's certain protocols that you don't want to get wrong, isn't there, when you're around royalness? You know, in theory, yes, but I do not know what is it and how to describe it that Her Majesty makes you feel very, very natural, being so. Being so human and warm and understanding. We spoke with her for a little while and it was very comfortable. It was hyper nervousness, nervousness of excitement. Because I think Her Majesty is a great person, really great person. And I think we're so lucky to have such a head of state. Oh, absolutely. And for you to have had conversations with her when she. She must be the most famous person on the globe, I think. I mean, everybody knows who she is, don't they? And you've actually, you know, met her on. On numerous occasions. That is. That's just incredible. It is. It is incredible. And she makes you feel good being in her presence and she is very special. Absolutely. I've heard that as well. People have been talking on the television, sharing memories of when they met the Duke of Edinburgh, and they've also said that if they were perhaps a bit nervous, he was fantastic at just putting them at their ease and just having a really lovely normal conversation. And he also seemed to have been very witty because they would say that they were laughing with him. So I think they, like you say, they were experts in making people feel really comfortable. And even though it's a very big deal to meet someone who's royal, that you know, to just have a lovely conversation and just enjoy it? Yeah, absolutely, yes. Now, Olga, I'd like to ask you, you know, you come from Russia, from Moscow, and I'm super passionate of the Russian literacy, the Russian music, the Russian culture. And, you know, he studied at the Tchaikowsky Conservatoire, at the Nyassin School of Music, Royal Academy, Russian Academy of Music. So. And, you know, I will go actually to the Nyasin Russian Academy of Music to give a master class in October, and we are just doing A partnership with my new conservatory, the London Performing Academy of Music. So I'm so excited to be able to go there and to create this link with the uk, with London, through music. And I'd like to ask you, when you were there, did you ever imagine that one day you would be in the UK presenting and composing for the Royal Family and, you know, being at Buckingham Palace, St James palace, so many times? Yes, we all can dream. I tell you the truth. I was dreaming of being a composer that I was dreaming. I absolutely loved the Royal Family since my childhood. And I was very much in love with England as a country. Never been there, because in Russia, you know, we were not traveling much. We were denied this freedom of traveling. So our ideas were through the literature, through bits and pieces, what we saw. So not seeing the places. We had some ideas. Which country would be closer to your heart. Some people were very much fond of America. Never been there. Another France. France was very popular for people to be obsessed with the idea of France because it was very strongly connected with Russian aristocracy, culture. You know, they even spoke French in aristocratic communist 19th century. So it was everybody's obsession. I was quite. I wouldn't call it obsession. I was totally in love with England, with English literature, with English everything, with Englishness and Britishness. And I was maybe subconsciously dreaming of living in England. And when I came to England, I found my home here. And it was almost like miracle, my coming here. It was on its own, quite a, you know, film script. But I did not imagine ever that I will be composing music for the Royal Family. I wanted to compose music and I would love to. You know, in the past, I was thinking that I'd like to meet my favorite royal family. But I didn't think ever that it would be the case, me composing for them. It is very special. Yeah. And I. I studied in Moscow, Chaikovsky Conservatory and I studied in Ignatian School. And so I combined those both institutions, which I would jokingly compare to Eton and Harrow. Yeah, that's interesting. Competitiveness. So one is Gnasin and another Conservatoire, and I had both of them. I entered both schools, Gnaesin, and one which was Central Musical School, which is more related to Conservatoire. So I studied in Gnaesen Musical School and then I entered Moskowchikovsky Conservatoire. So I combined two competitive organizations and brought peace between them. Wow. Yes, Fantastic. So beautiful. And how did you decide to become a composer? I mean, you always knew you had the gift of composing, for example. I think it is a gift. It's Very special. You could be passionate about music, but not everyone has this instinct to create something new like you do. Yes, you are right. Thank you. Yes. I didn't even know that I decided to be. It was almost like it was there as long as I remember myself I was composing. It was hard when I was maybe three years old because I didn't know how to express what I was composing. But as I jokingly say, I have some sort of special background application running in my mind. Which is. Which is constantly composing, whatever it is, any situation. I have this composing thing which is working all the time. You see, I have quite a lot in my head. John Forrest's voice, composing applications. Yes. I hope everything is okay with my head. Yeah. Wow. Yes. Sometimes I can see some situation and if it prompts me to compose subconsciously and then everything is ready in my head. I always knew I composed my consciously my first piece, which I was able to express and play with one finger when I was five years old. Perhaps it was my earliest one. And later on I used it for the production of the Cherry Orchard for a stand produced by famous Bill Kenwright. And I used it as one of the late material, not telling anybody that I composed it when I was five, I pretended. Oh, wow. I worked hard. I was in this square for a student. Yes, When I was five. Yeah. Amazing. Yeah, it was. It was fun. And when I could play two hands with two hands, when I was six, I composed my second piece, which I called Music Box. I think I could put it for associated word, for sort of great one. I think it is okay. It is nothing silly about it. It is properties. It is a proper piece. Yeah. Music Box. Now I'd like to listen to another song of yours is called Flowers on the Doorstep. Let's listen and then we will talk about it. Wonderful. Thank. You. Journeyed over land and sea With a warm wind Sailed in my heart the stars that shine in the sky Always lead me back to you Weather turning left or right I feel so alive and free My sunshine in the sky and my hopes and dreams will fly. The warmth of this place it gathers in my soul where flowers one that all start Wait for me I see it with a heart that is never alone and flowers on the doorstep wait for me. Summers come and summers glow I count the blessings I receive Winds of change blow in my life memories life mates stay with me Me dogs are singing in the trees Songs of love hallelujah. Flowers on the doorstep Wait for me. And this was Flower on the Doorstep, sang by the wonderful Joanna Forest composed by Olga Thomas what is this song about? This song for me is about love for your home. Whether home is the place or home is the feeling. It's a feeling of belonging, that you are expected, accepted and welcome whoever you are, with your own identity. And this home could be the place, as I said, and home could be the feeling. And flowers, who always somehow a symbol of, I would say, everything in life. Flowers for celebration, flowers for birthday, flowers for memorial, flowers for practically for every occasion, for beauty. Flowers which we see in the nature and smell them and admire them. But flowers on the doorstep for me is an idea of welcome. What could be better and more beautiful idea of welcome? And I want it in a sort of autobiography way, express my love for England, where I wasn't born, but with became my home. London. I found my home and I found me being myself, where I can open my wings and fly. And I wanted to express this love for home as an idea in this song and as always, magical. Joanna Forrest did. The sense of. And the soul and the heart of that idea. And it was so lovely because we recorded it when restrictions last time were just lifting. And it was really something. Yeah, it was really something. Amazing for me to look forward to because last year, I think we've kind of got used to our new normal now. And it isn't quite so strange because we've lived with this coronavirus thing for so long now. But when we recorded this, it was still in the time when everything felt like the world had turned upside down. So it was for me, something so lovely to look forward to, to go into a recording studio to sing Olga's beautiful song. It was just. It was really lovely. It came at such a lovely time. Can I say there is also a very strange connection between the death of the Duke of Edinburgh and the release of the restriction for this third lockdown. I think in a way, death is also being rebirthed, reborn. And this is really a moment that will sign the whole country as a new life that is gonna start without the Duke of Edinburgh. Because we have to cope with the fact that this incredible paternal figure is not there anymore, but will be in our heart and at the same time, maybe the way out from this incredible dark moment that was the coronavirus and the pandemic, the lockdown for the entire world, thanks to this fantastic vaccination program that we had. So it's very strange, isn't it? The coincidence and as well the history is true. There has always been a very magical moment. I lost my grandma and an uncle. Exactly Around Easter and even my grandpa. So somehow they say that when you lose a dear one in that moment, you're sure that the door of heaven are open and everyone is suddenly, you know, forgiven. So it's a very special moment and it's beautiful that we're actually celebrating with your music. So thank you so much for being here today. Now, the last song we're going to play this. This interview is flying away. We only have a few minutes left. So the last song of today is. That is a Story. Joanna, this is. Would you like to talk about this song? This is a fabulous Christmas song. And again, it was recorded at the brilliant Angel Studio. So it was another. It was another one of Olga's compositions where there was a full orchestra, which was really exciting. So it sounds fantastic. And I got to sing with Daniel Cook again, which was lovely. So it's another duet with him. And we recorded our vocals at Angel Studios. And I absolutely love the words of this Christmas song. I think it's a really unique Christmas song. And even though it's not Christmas right now, being born again, so it couldn't be any better. Yes, you're absolutely, absolutely right. I totally agree with you about. Even though, you know, the Duke of Edinburgh has died and there's a sort of a feeling of, you know, national mourning also. There is that little spark of hope, isn't there? Because the restrictions are lifting and I think everybody's feeling optimism again for the first time as well. So I think you're right about how you can sort of feel both. Both things at the same time are for a very special reason. Yes. Let's listen then to. Yes. It was lost. Yes. Now the tease is story sang by Jonah Forrest. Our savior's life begins Bended will upon a cross and all to redeem a human being. Ram sam. Sa. The heart who declare the King of. The king of. How beautiful. And this was. That is a story sang by the wonderful Joanna Forest. Olga and Joanna, thank you so much for being our guest today to celebrate the life and love of a loss of the Duke of Edinburgh at the women's radio station. Thank you so much for inviting us. It was a great pleasure. Thank you, Stefania, thank you so much. So lovely to chat. Thank you for playing the music. Your beautiful music. We couldn't choose a better way, really. We would like to remind our listeners if they would like to pay tribute to the Royal family for the death of His Royal Highness. The government suggests that making donation to one of His Royal Highness many patronage is the best way to pay tribute to his remarkable legacy and that there is a list of His Royal Highness patronage and how you can donate on the royal website. Again, thank you so much for today. If you have any question that you would like to ask to our guest or nomination for our future Classic Women awards, please email presentersomensradiostation.com or tweet us @womensradiostn. Again, a big thanks to our guest Olga Thomas and Joanna Forest for the great chat and the beautiful music play today. You've been listening to future Classic Women Awards on women's radio station live every day at 10pm and 10pm London time. Joanna, I actually forgot to mention that you now got this wonderful job with the Classical Crossover magazine. Yes, that's right. I'm a columnist now, my favorite magazine and so yes, a column for them is absolutely fantastic. So this is something that's kind of come from lockdown and something I've, you know, I'm not a writer, haven't written before, but because I'm writing about things that I know, my love of music and what I'm up to, I really loved it. So yes, Classical Crossover Magazine, it's a great magazine, so check it out. So check out Joanna on the Classical Crossover magazine. It's available online on Instagram and on all the social platform and YouTube as well. And Olga, dear Olga, it was wonderful to meet you today to hear your wonderful stories and we can't wait to listen to your new album when it will be finished. Dedicated to the new jubilee of the for the Royal Highness the Queen. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. If you would like to listen to our to this episode again or catch up on our previous programs, you can head to to my presenter page Stefania Pasamonte Future Classic Women awards on the womensradio station.com and thank you again everyone and thank you for listening and goodbye. Goodbye. Thank you. Goodbye.