Myra Hess

Myra Hess was born in London on 25 February 1890, and she died there on 25 November 1965. Trained as a pianist, much of her career was spent in England. Her organisation of National Gallery Concerts in London during the last war was hailed as a vital boost to morale, and she was awarded the DBE in 1941.

A selection of articles about Myra Hess

Classical music news - 'The C[ritic]s can Drown in their Baths' - English pianist Myra Hess is the subject of Jessica Duchen's new biography, which will be published in February 2025

Ensemble. Mercurial Switches of Mood - Mike Wheeler is impressed by Mendelssohn, Liszt, Beethoven and J S Bach/Myra Hess played by Japanese pianist Yu Kosuge

Ensemble. Bubbling Energy - Mike Wheeler listens to Sarah Beth Briggs

Book review. Hugely Atmospheric - Jessica Duchen's new novel 'Ghost Variations', highly recommended by Alice McVeigh

New Contexts - Malcolm Miller reports on a recent Symposium on Beethoven's Diabelli Variations

A Genuine Beethoven Pianist - Simon Watterton gives a lunchtime recital in London, heard by Julian Jacobson

CD Spotlight. A Spectral Atmosphere - Murray McLachlan plays music by Shostakovich and friends, recommended by Howard Smith. '... an outright triumph for the label and for McLachlan.'

Arts and the Colour of Politics - Béla Hartmann muses on growing social equality and democratization

Outstanding and unforgettable - Lilya Zilberstein's recital at London's Wigmore Hall impresses Bill Newman

A Name to Remember! - Mikhail Shilyaev at St Martin-in-the-Fields, reviewed by Malcolm Troup

CD Spotlight. Mephistopheles in attendence - The playing of Marina Milic-Apostolovic, enjoyed by Robert Anderson

A star is reborn - BBC Legends, passing its one hundredth release, is appreciated by John Bell Young