When John and Richard Contiguglia play in a lunchtime London concert on Nov. 25, the time slot will have special significance. The woman who the concert will honor - pianist Myra Hess - performed a series of famous concerts at London's National Gallery at approximately the same time.

The Auburn natives will visit their hometown to preview the November concert honoring Hess as part of the Adams Foundation piano series. The Contiguglias studied under Hess at Yale University before carving out a reputation as being renowned concert pianists in their own right.

In an e-mail response to questions from The Citizen, Richard said that Hess was the greatest pianist they had ever heard in concert.

“She also prepared us for our debut, introduced us to her manager and literally set us on the road to a professional career as duo-pianists,” Richard said.

An English pianist, Hess was perhaps best known for her series of lunchtime concerts during World War II. During the war, theaters and concert halls were shut down, and art work was removed from the museums. Hess' performances were known for helping keep London's cultural spirit alive during its darkest years.

This November will see the second annual Myra Hess Day at the National Gallery, which will feature a series of piano concerts in her honor.

“To be able to pay tribute to her on such an occasion fills us with both pride and humility,” Richard said.

But along with her spirited concerts, Hess was known for her unique technique on the keyboard. She had the ability to make a piano almost sing with her hands, drawing a vocal tone from the instrument, according to the Contiguglias.

“To us, her music making represented a Platonic Ideal of perfection that all of us lesser mortals aspire to,” John said.

One instance that exemplified that dynamic style, he continued, was a performance of Beethoven's last three sonatas at Carnegie Hall. John Contiguglia said when Hess had finished, the audience remained silent for a while before spontaneously rising at once and giving a rousing applause.

“To this day, when we travel around the country, we meet music lovers who were in Carnegie Hall that afternoon who, likewise, will never forget the experience,” John said.

The Contiguglias are known for their own quality: dual piano performances. At Westminster and in London, they will perform some pieces that Hess taught. They will also play the famous conclusion to Beethoven's “Ninth Symphony,” as transcribed for two pianos.

“(The Beethoven piece) calls upon the sonic and imaginative skills of two pianists as no other duet does,” Richard said. “I wish we could have played this for Myra Hess.”

Christopher Caskey

253-5311 ext. 282

christopher.caskey@lee.net