Elly Ney: Biographical Note, Discography

Elly Ney (27.9.1882-31.3.1968) was one of the 20th century's outstanding pianists. Born in Düsseldorf into a musical family, she grew up in Bonn and in 1892 began to receive lessons from a succession of teachers: Franz Wüllner and Isidor Seiss in Cologne, and Theodor Leschitizky and Emil von Sauer in Vienna, once a pupil of Liszt. She thus became a "grand-pupil" of Liszt.

Elly Ney mit ihrer Tochter Eleonore van Hoogstraten+
Elley Ney with her daughter Eleonore van Hoogstraten
(c) Ulrike Schreiber

In 1904 she began a successful performing career which soon took her all over Europe. She rapidly became Germany's most famous female pianist, achieving world renown soon after the First World War. Her early tours were as a soloist, but later she also performed in trios with notable artists who included the Dutch violinist Willem van Hoogstraten and the cellist Fritz Reitz. Willem van Hoogstraten, whom she had met in 1907 while teaching at Cologne Conservatory, and who became her husband in 1911, went on to become an internationally famous conductor. In 1921 they visited the USA, where they gave a Brahms memorial concert with the New York Philharmonic. As a result van Hoogstraten was appointed the orchestra's conductor for its summer seasons, and in the winter months regularly conducted the symphony orchestra at Portland, Oregon. Elly Ney and Willem van Hoogstraten were thus constantly on the move. They continued to regard Germany as home, however, and subsequently settled in Tutzing on the Starnberger See, from where Elly Ney undertook her world-wide recital tours.

(c) Foto Weiss

In 1931 Elly Ney met a young cellist, Ludwig Hoelscher. Together with the violinist Wilhelm Stross they founded another piano trio to which the violinist Max Strub also later belonged. From 1939 to 1945 she taught at the Salzburg Mozarteum.
Elly Ney's playing was known world-wide for its combination of temperamental fire and intuitive feeling; like the famous Argentinian pianist Teresa Careño before her, she was able to make the intrinsically percussive piano really sing. Her brilliant technique, heard at its best in, for example, the legato execution of pianissimo octaves, was singled out for special praise by many critics. Throughout the second half of her life until shortly before her death, by which time she was fêted as the "grand old lady" of the piano, she enraptured audiences with her increasingly insightful interpretations, illuminated by

Elly Ney and Willem van Hoogstraten's daughter - the actress Eleonore van Hoogstraten

the serenity of old age: Listeners were reminded of the formulation coined by Winckelmann: "noble simplicity and quiet grandeur". But it went without saying that her fidelity to the work being played and her technical virtuosity remained undimmed. In her early years Elly Ney included contemporary works in her repertoire, but as she grew older she confined herself almost exclusively to Mozart, Schubert, Schumann,

Elly Ney mit Ur-Enkel

Elly Ney and her "eldest" great-granddaughter - February 1968

Mendelssohn and Brahms. It was on her interpretations of Brahms, but even more, perhaps, of Beethoven, that her fame during her lifetime rested. Elly Ney believed in the ethical power of music and continued to proclaim it to her wide circle of devotees at home and abroad until just two weeks before her death in ripe old age.

Discography
Elly NEY

To mark the 120th birthday of the great Elly Ney in September 2002, Colosseum Records has brought out a series containing all her later recordings. Some of her close contemporaries have collaborated on this new edition, together with her daughter, Eleonore van Hoogstraten, resident in Munich, and one of her former pupils.

Ludwig van Beethoven
Sonatas No. 30 in E major, Op. 109 · No. 31 in A flat major, Op. 110 · No. 32 in C minor, Op. 111
Colosseum COL 9012.2

Example:
Sonate Nr. 30 in E major, Op. 109,

Elly Ney at Beethovens's last piano
Andante favori, Für Elise, Sonate op. 111,
6 Variations Nel cor piu non mi sento
Colosseum COL 9013.2

Ludwig van Beethoven
Piano Concertos No. 3 in C minor, Op. 37 & No. 4 in G major, Op. 58
Nürnberger Symphoniker
conducted by Willem van Hoogstraten
Colosseum COL 9015.2

Franz Schubert
Wanderer Fantasy in C major, Op. 15 Robert Schumann
Symphonic Etudes Op. 13 + Appendix Colosseum COL 9016.2

Ludwig van Beethoven
Sonatas No. 4 in E flat major, Op. 7 · No. 8 in C minor, Op. 13 · No. 12 in A flat Major, Op.26
Colosseum COL 9018.2

Ludwig van Beethoven
Piano Concertos No. 5 in E flat major, Op. 73 "Emperor" & "Appassionata"
Nürnberger Symphoniker
conducted by Willem van Hoogstraten
Colosseum COL 9019.2

Example:
Piano Concertos Nr.5 in E flat major, Op. 73 "Emperor"

Ludwig van Beethoven
Sonatas No. 14 in C sharp minor, Op. 27,2 · No. 17 in D minor, Op. 31,2 · No. 21 in C major, Op. 53
Colosseum COL 9021.2

Ludwig van Beethoven
Sonata No. 18 in E flat major, Op. 31,3 · Variations · Six Ecossaises · Rondo a capriccio in G major, Op. 129 etc. Colosseum COL 9022.2

Felix Mendelssohn
from: Songs Without Words
Franz Schubert
Moments musicaux, Impromptus
Frédéric Chopin
Ballade in A flat major, Op. 47 · Fantaisie in F minor, Op. 49
Colosseum COL 9023.2

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Rondo in A minor KV 511
Sonatas No. 11 in A major KV 331 & No. 10 in C major KV 330
Franz Schubert
15 Deutsche Tänze
Colosseum COL 9024.2

The CDs are obtainable from specialist dealers.


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Biographical Note: ELLY NEY

Discography Elly NEY

Biographical Note:
ELLY NEY

Discography
Elly NEY