Hanno Müller-Brachmann . Graham Johnson

Happily, the days are gone when the singer in a song recital would walk away with all the praise and the pianist would sit there as an inconspicuous piece of decoration. Even so, the accompanist is still very often underestimated, and even the word accompanist is misleading. It is as if their only task was to follow the singer slavishly and support them with a couple of simple chords. In the art of the song it is essential that singer and pianist are completely equal partners. From now on, it would be far better if one spoke about the 'Lieder pianist', in this way you indicate that we are talking about a special pianist. Despite the necessary technique and virtuosity, the ideal Lieder pianist must possess a number of additional qualities. Firstly, an enormous sensitivity to language and poetry, a rich imagination and a generous psychological capacity for empathy. Also they must be able to paint images, evoke atmospheres, and transform words into music. Naturally, they require insight into singing technique, in order to breathe together with the singer and phrase words and sentences. The English Lieder pianist Graham Johnson possesses all these qualities. In this recital he performs together with the talented young baritone Hanno Müller-Brachmann. Please: take note of the pianist!