Kahn & Averill • London

Memoirs of an Accompanist

Helmut Deutsch

£17.95 - $26.95

During a career spanning more than 50 years, Helmut Deutsch has accompanied over 100 singers, including such artists as Ian Bostridge, Grace Bumbry, Diana Damrau, Brigitte Fassbaender, Jonas Kaufmann, Angelika Kirchschlager, Christoph Pregardien, Mauro Peter, Hermann Prey, Thomas Quasthoff, Yumiko Samejima, Peter Schreier, Irmgard Seefried and Anne Sofie von Otter. In the words of the critic Robert Jungwirth, writing in BR Klassik, March 2019, Helmut Deutsch's book is 'a declaration of love - for all the many wonderful songs and cycles, and for many singers'. Richard Stokes, the distinguished translator of this memoir, is Professor of Lieder at the Royal Academy of Music. He has written and lectured copiously on German song, and his singing translations of Berg's Wozzeck and Lulu, and Wagner's Parsifal, have met with high critical acclaim. He was awarded the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany in 2012.

Reviews

“This book describes, with humour and with intelligence, Helmut Deutsch's journey from unknown repetiteur to one of the most sought-after accompanists of the modern era. Apart from pianistic technique we also learn the qualities required for his profession of accompanist: empathy, flexibility, psychological sensitivity, patience and the ability to take a step back and be at the service of others.  ”

Nicole Restle, Das Magazin der Berliner Philharmoniker

“This volume is quite simply treasure-trove: required reading for all those devoted to Lieder, and a wonderfully tasty appetizer for those as yet unfamiliar with the genre.  ”

Rotary-Magazin

“Outstanding. How often does one read a book from the first page to the last without putting it down? And feel sad when one has finished?  ”

Ingrid Wanja, OperaLounge

 

Paperback

Available

ISBN:

9780995757448

Pages:

224

Size:

234x156

Illustrations:

32 photographs