Geoffrey Pratley

Geoffrey Pratley has enjoyed a long and illustrious career as one of Britain’s best known accompanists. After studying at the Royal Academy of Music he went on to accompany many world famous singers and instrumentalists in concert worldwide , especially the mezzo soprano Dame Janet Baker, the French cellist Paul Tortelier and the leading British violinist of his time, Ralph Holmes; others include Placido Domingo, Leon Goosen, Jack Brymer, Rita Streich, Takayoshi Wanami and many more. He has also broadcast widely on radio and television; especially notable were his appearances on BBC2TV as accompanist to Tortelier’s famous Cello Masterclasses.

He taught Piano Accompaniment and coached singers at the Royal Academy of Music from 1965 till June 2005, and he has taught at Trinity College of Music since 1990. His publications from Kevin Mayhew Ltd include “Great Operatic Melodies” arranged for piano duet, “Great Orchestral Melodies for Violin” (1 book) and for Cello (2 books), all arranged with piano accompaniment, “Six Irish Folksongs” and “Six English Folksongs,” most of which were written for Dame Janet Baker’s recitals. Other publishers include OUP, Faber Music, and Stainer and Bell.

He has performed and taught in many countries, especially the Far East. His two-piano and piano duet partnership with Anne Applin performs a wide range of unusual items as well as more standard duet repertoire: in particular composer’s arrangements of their own works for four hands, mostly 19th Century items. He has also had a busy schedule as examiners and Festival adjudicator for many years.