DUO NATHALIE MUSARDO
& STEVE ZWYGART
VELVET & IVORY – ZUrich – VOICE & PIANO DUO
This stylish duo of vocals and piano combines the warmth of jazz with the refinement of classical music and the charm of French chanson. With subtle arrangements and a virtuosity in the service of emotion, Nathalie Musardo and Steve Zwygart create a cosy, classy & jazzy atmosphere – music like smooth velvet that touches the heart and senses.
They love to breathe new life into seemingly forgotten chansons, give a jazz ballad a touch of Chopin or surprise their audience here and there with a musical reference.
With a great finesse, they create moments that can sound gentle, lively or festive, depending on the occasion – whether it's lounge music, concerts and recitals, or a live karaoke evening where guests themselves become the voice.
LOUNGE MUSIC
Velvet & Ivory offers lounge sets for receptions, bars, hotels and stylish corporate and private events – ideal for guests looking for softness, elegance and a touch of velvet in their music.
Its versatile repertoire includes jazz standards, bossa nova, French chansons, film music and classical influences. It is equally suited to festive, poetic or meditative moments.
CONCERT & RECITAL
The duo performs both in concert formations – occasionally expanded to include saxophone, double bass or percussion – and with their own recital programmes, which take the audience on a musical journey through various themes.
Particularly enchanting is the programme dedicated to composer Michel Legrand – a tribute to his timeless melodies, blending legendary classics and lesser-known gems in a fresh brilliance.
LIVE KARAOKE
In collaboration with the Zurich-based French-speaking cultural platform Aux arts etc., the duo organises live karaoke evenings, for example on the theme of "Chansons plaisir coupable" – guilty pleasure songs.
Guests are put in the mood with fine gems from chanson, pop, jazz and film music before they are allowed to grab the microphone themselves. The duo accompanies them kindly and without pressure – many experience a liberating joy, as if they were singing in the shower – but under professional conditions!
christmas standards
With their Christmas programme, Velvet & Ivory transport their audience into the warm, glittering world of English-language Christmas classics. With sophisticated arrangements ranging from smooth jazz to cheerful swing, their interpretations are reminiscent of the great voices of America.
Music that evokes childhood memories while remaining modern and stylish – ideal for festive company evenings, Christmas receptions or winter lounges.
The singer and pianist met while working with the Zurich Boys' Choir. Both French-speaking, they love the same repertoire and share the same musical approach. And, like in Italy, they enjoy their espresso strong and without sugar – intense, precise and full of flavour, just like their music.
MORE ABOUT THE DUO
Nathalie Musardo, of French-Italian origin, studied flute (Françoise Moret and Brigitte Buxtorf), music education, singing and choral conducting (Michel Corboz and Michel Marc Gervais) at the Lausanne and Geneva Universities of Music, and musicology and sinology at the Geneva and Zurich Universities.
She moved to Zurich over 20 years ago. Her various activities focus on the voice and polyphony. She works as a choir conductor (PhoniXang, church choir Tägerig, ad hoc projects), singer, singing teacher (Uster Music School), editor (Aux arts etc.) and practitioner of vocal yoga and sound baths.
As a soloist, she specialises in French chansons, jazz and bossa nova, particularly with her band The Blue Crew, in which Steve Zwygart also occasionally plays.
Steve Zwygart studied piano at the Zurich University of the Arts with Urs Vögelin and Martin Christ. Throughout his studies, he attended Lied accompaniment classes, where he discovered his passion for this art form at an early age.
After graduating, he worked as a piano teacher at the Winterthur Conservatory and public music schools, as well as a répétiteur, arranger and composer, and gave numerous concerts at home and abroad in a wide variety of formations.
He has many years of experience as a bar pianist and was the resident pianist at the renowned Dolder Grand Hotel for nine years. For over 30 years, he has been teaching piano for all age groups, from classical to jazz, pop and improvisation (Piano Forum).
