.jpg "Accompanying Richard Roddis, Dichterliebe, St Mary's Wirksworth, March 2011.")
|
The Attenborough Piano Quartet, Elspeth Brien, Isobel Bounford, Beate, and Gareth Stevens, in Derby Cathedral following a lunchtime concert, June 2010
Accompaniment and Ensemble
I am in demand as an accompanist and performance coach. I particularly enjoy working with singers, and am able to give advice on style and performance. Whilst living in Cambridge I lectured for Lieder accompaniment. I regularly work with Nottingham University music students and have accompanied professional singers here and abroad. I have been official accompanist in international courses and master classes. I have played for violinists and cellists and run several professional ensembles. I accompany for concerts and public performance, and can coach and accompany for exams and diplomas.
One of my particular interests is the bringing together
of pianists in 6 and 8 hands ensembles. Wherever I have lived I have created
multi-piano groups; most recently the Derby Piano Quartet, 8
hands on 2 pianos.
I am an enthusiastic chamber musician, and
am currently part of the Attenborough Piano Quartet, and the
Mercian Piano Trio.
Picture Gallery
|
|
The Attenborough Piano Quartet, Elspeth Brien, Isobel Bounford, Beate, and Gareth Stevens, in Derby Cathedral following a lunchtime concert, June 2010
Derby Cathedral, Derby, UK, March 7th, 2009
"The version of
Brahms' German Requiem with the orchestral part transcribed by the
composer for piano duet has been receiving some attention lately. As the Derwent
Singers' performance showed, it can be a deeply satisfying experience in its own
right, not merely second best.
Sensitively partnered by Beate Toyka and Clive Pollard, the choir produced a remarkable range of dynamics, with no lack of power at climaxes. There was plenty of muscular vigour in the fugal sections, and conductor Richard Roddis' steady tempo gave the fourth movement a radiant tranquillity. Soprano Caroline Palmer and baritone Jeremy Leaman were the eloquent soloists.
Mike Wheeler. http://www.mvdaily.com/articles/2009/03/derwent.htm. Downloaded July 27, 2011.
Endenich Trinitatis Church,
Bonn, February 16th, 2010
"While
all over the Rhineland Carnival was in full swing a surprisingly sizeable
audience had assembled in the Endenich Trinitatis Church (Bonn) to listen to the
Spanish singer Maria Escobar and her German-British accompanist Beate Toyka.
Described by Thomas Quasthoff as outstanding the singer’s programme span a large frame from the classics to Roger Quilter. With wonderfully warm and beautifully nuanced voice Escobar succeeded effortlessly to fill the Trinitatis Church and give each song its individual character.
As in Franz Schubert’s “An den Mond” or the “Shepherd on the Rock”, which was played here in an arrangement for flute rather than clarinet by Ursula Grote-Möhring. Pianist Beate Toyka who showed herself from her best soloist side with 3 of Chopin’s Etudes was as an accompanist reliable and in the background. She honed her skills to Escobar’s service, despite having to struggle with an out of tune grand piano.
However, “Ah, je veux vivre” from Charles Gounod’s Opera “Romeo et Juliette” or the 3 Lieder from “Des Knaben Wunderhorn” by Gustav Mahler showed the interpretative power of this well balanced duo. The songs from the Singer’s Spanish home provided local colour and a good atmosphere."
Guido Krawinkel. Generalanzeiger, Bonn. 16.02.2010. (translated)