Rachel Parris
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The comedian Rachel Parris talks to Michael Berkeley about her musical passions and how her life as a classical musician led to her career in comedy. Her hugely versatile career includes improvised comedy shows, stand-up, musical comedy and appearances on Radio 4\\u2019s The Now Show. She\\u2019s caused quite a stir with her hilarious turns as a faux-na\\xefve reporter on BBC2\\u2019s satirical news show The Mash Report.
During her teens Rachel thought she would have a career as a classical musician \\u2013\\u2013 she has a Music degree from Oxford, she\\u2019s an accomplished singer, and an excellent pianist; indeed, until recently she was a piano teacher.
Rachel talks to Michael about how she moved from music to comedy via drama school and how music still has a central place in her life. Her choices of pieces reflect the breadth of her musical passions, from a recording of Tallis in which she sings, to Bernstein and the American Songbook. She loves music that tells a story, particularly Rimsky-Korsakov\\u2019s Scheherazade, and music that makes her laugh, like Tom Lehrer\\u2019s songs. Rachel talks movingly about depression and her work with The Samaritans, and we hear music by Debussy which she finds a comfort in difficult times.
Producer: Jane Greenwood\\nA Loftus production for BBC Radio 3\\n
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