Gerald Moore: The Unashamed Accompanist

Gerald Moore: The Unashamed Accompanist

Gerald Moore, piano and narrator; (track 22) Gerald Moore, voice/Victoria de los Angeles, piano
Testament SBT 1176 | Mono ADD

I’m fulfilling a request for Peter here. Hope you enjoy this!

For those of you who imagine the role of the accompanist to be essentially one of subservience and reticence in favor of the soloist, this recording makes for an entertaining reeducation. Gerald Moore, the doyen of modern accompanists, explains the role of the accompanist, debunking many myths and untruths along the way. His wit and erudition make this a very enjoyable listen. No dry pedantries here. Particularly funny is his retelling of an anecdote involving Sir Thomas Beecham and his “public spirited” approach to his role in the opera house.

Appended at the end of this disc is an outtake with Gerald Moore and Victoria de los Angeles engaged in a little bit of role reversal. Here Moore for once takes the spotlight as singer, with de los Angeles as his accompanist and the two pound out a, shall we say, unforgettable rendition of Schumann’s Ich grolle nicht from Dichterliebe.

This is a delightful and edifying recording and Testament deserves our thanks for making it available. What a treat!