Page 21 - Alison Balsom Quiet City FULL BOOK

Balsom, centre, in rehearsals
HUGH CARSWELL
The Leonard Bernstein track Lonely Town is another highlight of the album. Balsom’s husband,

the director Sam Mendes, chose it. “He played it to me and I thought that’s exactly what I’m

trying to create with this album.” Five years into their marriage he is still moved by her playing:
“Every time he listens to Quiet City he’s in floods of tears. So he can’t listen any more. He’s not

getting a copy,” she says, laughing.

Do they share ideas? “Every day! We’re honest critics,” she ponders then chuckles. “We’re not

scared of saying what we really think. Sam is so senior in what he does that people are almost
nervous to challenge him. But I don’t have any of those worries.”