On Air Now
Early Breakfast with Lucy Coward 4am - 6:30am
28 October 2018, 16:40
Everyone thinks you're the support act, but we know: accompanists you truly are the unsung heroes of the classical music world. But here are the things that really get on your nerves…
Oh, could you sight-read 27 different singers’ piano accompaniments on audition day? Whatevs.
Sing. the damn. note.
Oh sure! I can totally play that Brahms violin sonata straight up with no rehearsals.
Not gonna happen, pal.
THERE ARE LADY ACCOMPANISTS TOO (we just have to wear boring dresses so as not to upstage the sopranos).
Just listen from 2:10 onwards – it’s totally a duet, not a solo and accompaniment.
See also, Schubert’s Der Erlkönig. *shudder*
Yes well done, you were very amazing at learning all those horrible hard French words, while I tried to sight-read six sharps at crotchet =180.
s’not fair.
Oh, that squiggle in the corner? That means BRING A PROPER BOOK NEXT TIME.
My oh my.
Slooooow down, tiger.
Just because you have to ‘follow’ them throughout the piece and applaud them at the end, this DOESN’T mean you want to go out with them.
WHY WILL NOBODY NOTICE ME.
But despite all this, you secretly know you’re an equal partner on that stage. And you wouldn’t change it for the world.
Here’s soprano Mary Bevan, accompanied by the *awesome* Joseph Middleton.