By STU CLAMPITT
Pasto Italiano, 3150 E. State Road 32, Westfield, used to be one of Hamilton County’s best kept secrets. An intimate little setting for fine dining just east of downtown has quietly become so popular that reservations are a good idea. They offer live music every Wednesday and Friday, and this week, on April 22, they will play host to a world-class violinist with an extensive repertoire spanning several genres from classical through modern hits.
The Reporter spoke with Violinist Olga Berezhnaya, an exceptionally talented musician with an interesting sense of humor, who said she has been playing violin since she was six years old.
Berezhnaya holds a master’s degree in violin, which she received in Europe before she became an American citizen. When asked what brought her and her music to America and to Indiana, she said with a chuckle, “Plane. Airplane.”
Berezhnaya lives in west-central Indiana now and told The Reporter she is very happy living in the Midwest. “I love it, otherwise I would move somewhere else,” Berezhnaya said. “I love it here. I love Indiana.”
She came to Indiana by way of New York and says she does not even try to compare the two but appreciates what each has to offer in its own way and on its own terms.
“You cannot compare New York and Indianapolis, so I do not even try,” Berezhnaya said. “I love New York just because it’s New York. It’s exciting and it’s just smell and flavor and all those different parts of New York City. Indiana, Indianapolis and of course towns like Crawfordsville, Lafayette, Monticello, and Zionsville are all different.”
Berezhnaya has played events of all sizes, from as intimate a setting as two people when she has been hired to play at engagements, all the way to the world stage including a Judo world championship and the World University Games.
“You could not imagine,” Berezhnaya said. “Like world championship of Judo where I played as a highlighter. You would not imagine that violin could jump in there, but it was a very interesting experience in my life when creative entertainment managers put my violin on the stage to highlight some important events like world championship of Judo and Taekwondo.”
Berezhnaya also played a musician representing the official delegation in Belgrade, Serbia, in 2009 at the 25th World University Games.
The World University Games, or the Universiade, is an international multi-sport event, organized for university athletes by the International University Sports Federation. The name is a portmanteau of the words “University” and “Olympiad.”
“Besides playing on some very high-level official events, I have large experience playing on festivals, anniversaries, any type of corporate event,” Berezhnaya told The Reporter. “You will be surprised: I was hired three times here in United States for the Halloween parties. I wasn’t sure should I put any makeup or to go without makeup to fit better at the Halloween party.”
When asked if she did go in costume, she laughed and said, “No. I was just regular. I decided I don’t have to put anything on my face nor costume to fit the crowd because I’m on the stage, I’m a musician, I do fun music maybe, but I don’t have to feed the crowd, let’s say. But it was fun.”
Berezhnaya has also played at anniversaries, birthdays, Bar Mitzvahs, Bat Mitzvahs, parties and corporate events.
“So many different kinds or types of events of course require hundreds of different songs,” Berezhnaya said. “I do have them. I play by ear. I very rarely dig into internet to try to find some music notes, sheets and everything. So I play by ear. This is why I play the very contemporary songs. Like whatever you listen and hear on the radio, I play this tomorrow.”
Berezhnaya says she likes to perform by mixing genres and switching styles based on the audience, except in those cases where she has been hired to play in a particular style.
“On my performances for public events, like we are going to have in Westfield, I prefer to mix genres,” Berezhnaya said. “I feel like it catches more attention. It doesn’t get boring when I switch one to another. So I’m going to mix jazz, pop, rock, contemporary, classical – I’m afraid to say country. I do play country, but probably for this Italian style and theme of the restaurant, I will probably not play country unless I get some special request, but I doubt it’s going to be country.”
Guests at Pasto Italiano on Friday, April 22 can expect to hear selections from her extensive and diverse knowledge of music.
“I have the right styles and genres in my repertoire, plus I like to see and estimate and immediately react on ages of the guests where I’m playing,” Berezhnaya said. “It means I can include immediately song by song as I switch back to 70s, 60s, like Elvis, like Nat King Cole, like Frank Sinatra, and then I go to 80s, I go to 90s, and switch to very contemporary. As I said, if you hear this on radio, I play this like snap! This is what I am going to do. This is what I like to do.”
Berezhnaya told The Reporter she is looking forward to her Westfield performance, as she does every time she plays in her adopted Hoosier state.
“I really love people in this state because they are genuine and they are understanding,” Berezhnaya said.
If you would like to hear Olga Berezhnaya perform while you enjoy some of the best Italian food Hamilton County has to offer, call Pasto Italiano at (317) 804-2051 to get your reservations for Friday, April 22.