It’s quite handy knowing an international baritone because thatis how I found out about this book. And he may be called Deutsch but he’s Viennese! This was my choice for a Christmas present from a friend, in the original language.

I read on, fascinated by how rude he could be! It’s divided into chapters about various famous singers he has played for, mostly from the German speaking areas. He tells you how wonderfully they sang whatever it is – and then he tells you what he didn’t like. And this can extend to beer and sausages after the concert, rather than a posh meal. My sympathies were with a well known singer who, when asked why he didn’t work with him any more, replied “Oh, Helmut’s such a Prima Donna!” He had a Japanese wife who went back to Japan. I wonder why?

Op>f course, Germans’s a great language to be rude in. I wondered what he’d think of an up-coming CD where the singer is actually English and the pianist comes from some place called Wales? Thinking of “Tom der Reimer” carried off by the Queen of the Elves with bells on her harness, the rising singer says he wouldn’t allow anyone but his duo pianist to tinkle his bells! That’s the spirit!