Pianist Anne-Marie McDermott
Photo by Steve J. Sherman
Nutty and Neurotic
Backstage, the Accompanist Sees and Hears All
by David Srebnik
Who knows musicians best? A musician's accompanist, or second banana, is always a likely source for a good story or some juicy dirt. They see and hear everything – back stage and center stage. So when the pressure is off, and the soloist lets down their hair, pianist Anne-Marie McDermott is watching.
Listen to Anne-Marie McDermott by clicking next to "Listen" above.
Pianist Anne-Marie McDermott accompanies violinist Nadja-Salerno-Sonnenberg and her brother-in-law, violist Paul Neubauer, among others.
Turn about is fair play. Do accompanists have their own identifiable quirks? Maybe... maybe not, but Anne-Marie McDermott never goes anywhere without Sammy, her tiny, white-haired Maltese.
To hear more of your favorite performers talking about the music you love, and to get an insider's view of their lives, visit www.virtuosovoices.org/performers.html.
