Dame Myra Hess was an English concert pianist, renowned for her interpretations of the works of Beethoven, Schumann, and Bach, among others. Born on February 25, 1890, in London, Hess entered the Royal Academy of Music at just 12 years of age, studying under Tobias Matthay. Her debut came in 1907, and her career swiftly ascended, leading to international recognition.

Myra Hess achieved iconic status during World War II when she organized a series of lunchtime concerts at the National Gallery in London, which had been emptied of paintings for safety. These concerts provided solace and cultural enrichment to Londoners during the bombings. Dame Hess's own performances were often broadcast from the gallery, and her work to maintain the nation's morale during this time was later recognized with a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1941. Her legacy encompasses not only her musical achievements but also her indomitable spirit. She continued to give performances around the world and make recordings until her health declined. Dame Myra Hess passed away on November 25, 1965, but her legacy endures, as evidenced by the continued interest and release of recordings such as "Women of Piano," "Beethoven Sonatas," and her famous arrangement of Bach's "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" which remains a beloved staple in the piano repertoire to this day.

Genres

British Classical Piano

Historic Piano Performance

Related Artists

Murray Perahia

Vladimir Horowitz

Arthur Rubinstein

Wilhelm Kempff

Lang Lang

Martha Argerich

Glenn Gould

Alfred Cortot

Mitsuko Uchida

Maria João Pires

Angela Hewitt

Artur Schnabel

Latest Release

Éclats. Beethoven, Debussy and Heritage

Myra Hess

Album - 46 Tracks - Released July 30, 2024