Memoirs of an Accompanist

Helmut Deutsch ranks among the finest song recital accompanists in the world. Born in Vienna, he studied at the Conservatoire, Music Academy and the University. He was awarded the Composition Prize of Vienna in 1965, was appointed professor at the age of twenty-four, and continued his teaching primarily in Munich at the Hochschule fur Musik und Theater, where he worked as a professor of song interpretation for twenty-eight years. Although he has performed with leading instrumentalists as a chamber musician, Helmut Deutsch has concentrated primarily on accompanying song recitals. At the beginning of his career he worked with the soprano Irmgard Seefried, and accompanied Hermann Prey as a permanent partner for twelve years. Subsequently he has worked with many of the greatest recital singers and played in the world's major music centres. His collaborations with Jonas Kaufmann, Diana Damrau, Piotr Beczala and Michael Volle are among his most notable. The young Swiss tenor Mauro Peter was one of his last students in Munich and has become one of his favourite recital partners.

...this book is not only a testimony to Helmut Deutsch’s exceptional musical talent, formidable memory and meticulous recollection of past events, but also his acute sensitivity, instinctive consideration for others’ predicaments, and versatility in accommodating a broad range of personalities. The above qualities, along with his signature humility, are revealed throughout the “Memoirs”, celebrating his vast wealth of experience (with lieder as the centre of his prolific career), extensive travels to concertize and teach in far-fetched parts of the world, open-mindedness in incorporating various cultural elements (especially Japanese and Korean) into his repertoire, and highly respected expertise in coaching and pedagogy. - Frances WilsonThis is a book which will surely appeal to any classical music lover, and in particular those with a penchant for lieder. Meanwhile pianists, and especially those who practice the art of accompanying, will find that the book offers a plethora of expert insight and valuable understanding. For college students learning this art, and those intent on a portfolio career, the book is absolutely invaluable. - Andrew Eales @pianodao.com.All lovers of song will want this book, it illuminates with wit what it is to be an accompanist, and provides a clear-sighted view from 50 years partnering singers. Robert Hugill @planethugill.com.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, OperaLoungeThis 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-MagazinThis 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

• Foreword by Alfred Brendel, Translator's note, Acknowledgements, Prologue, 1. Hermann Prey. The first concert, 2. ' . . . and dream a blissful dream.' Japan, 3. 'What a dream profession!' The years with Hermann Prey, 4. Even Karajan had to laugh. Childhood and adolescence, 5. The right partnership. Early years as a song accompanist. Ileana Cotrubas, Irmgard Seefried, Rita Streich, 6. Hermann Prey. Winterreisen and anecdotes, 7. Yumiko Samejima, 8. Josef Protschka, 9. Olaf Bar, 10. Brigitte Fassbaender, 11. Practising, 12. Working with the singer, 13. Bo Skovhus, 14. Bernd Weikl, 15. Peter Schreier, 16. Thomas Quasthoff, 17. Teaching, 18. Juliane Banse, 19. Dietrich Henschel, 20. Jonas Kaufmann, 21. Stefanie Iranyi, 22. Mauro Peter, 23. Of pianos and concert-grands, 24. The day of the concert, 25. The concert, 26. Page-turners, 27. After the concert, 28. Barbara Bonney, 29. Angelika Kirchschlager, 30. Programmes, 31. Andreas Schmidt, 32. Recordings, 33. Grace Bumbry, 34. Matthias Goerne, 35. The press, 36. Werktreue and liberties, 37. Michael Volle, 38. Diana Damrau, 39. Competitions, 40. Piotr Beczala, 41. Camilla Nylund, 42. Singers and accompanists, 43. The Liederabend - past and future, 44. Epilogue, Appendices: Contributor biographies, The singers, Selected discography, Index of names