THE BBC MUSIC MAGAZINE INTERVIEW
‘As soon as I realised playing song involves images, text and sound, I knew this was what I really loved’
As he prepares for a four-day celebration of song as artistic director of Leeds Lieder, the leading collaborative pianist discusses his art, and much besides, with Natasha Loges
On the day we speak, Joseph Middleton’s first task is to find a flat-headed screwdriver. He needs to take the front off his piano so he can extricate the pencil and notebook his toddler has ‘posted’ inside it. Although collaborative pianists (or accompanists) are renowned for their versatility, pianobased DIY may be a first. But there’s much more to his life than playing the piano.
‘If I hadn’t studied music, I’d have done something to do with visual art,’ he tells me. ‘I love words and language. And I got hooked on voices early on. As soon as I realised
You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.
Start your free 30 days