Elly Ney plays Beethoven Sonata no. 4 opus 7 in E flat major (1936 rec.)

[@JohnDoe-jt4ju]

Thanks for posting. The Largo (second movt) is one of my favorites.

[@pianopera]

Her early recording of opus 111 is certainly one of the very best...

[@paulprocopolis]

Finely done - the music comes across very directly and the musical points tell without being over-stated (note the contained drama of the last movement's central episode). And whilst the tempo of the first movement might be thought of as cautious, the playing has musical integrity and balance.

[@jackatherton0111]

We hear nothing of the “high priestess” here, rather a directness reminiscent of Backhaus and the fabled Eduard Erdmann (whose recordings reportedly don’t do him justice). Light not heat. Feeling not emotion. A minority view but I find Ney’s post-war recordings on Colosseum even more exalted. The political question is agonizing but consider what we today in America are allowing to happen; I won’t say more because this is not a political forum. Thanks for sharing.

[@gerardbedecarter]

Thanks for uploading this. Excellent.

[@JamesVaughan]

Simply wonderful!

[@MrGer2295]

Beautiful! Thanks for sharing!

[@OldRabit]

Totally amazing!

[@morinoroba]

Hmm....very nice, nothing is unnatural in her interpretation, she is just breathing Beethoven naturally.

[@pianopera]

A couple of slips in the first and last movement; certainly not as perfect as Michelangeli... but the second and third movement are sublime... her playing is expressive, very well balanced and above all *spacious* -- a good example are the rests after the fortissimo chords at 10:37, where so many pianists rush... she is really breathing.

[@danielvalenciabegazo4325]

Ella es perfecta en toda la sonata, mejor que cualquier intérprete.

[@hyramesshiramess1035]

No one should ever be punished for his or her political beliefs no matter how odious -- especially true artists of this superb a quality. It's wonderful to see these recordings become available, but please don't harp on her political convictions. 

[@pianopera]

Those were not "political convictions" but purely anti-semitic, racist sentiments. I agree though that her recordings deserve to be heard.

[@jimtrueblue99]

+Hyramess Hiramess Race hatred is not political belief. It is depravity. And great skill at the keyboard excuses none this woman's wickedness as a willing, committed Nazi and Hitler lover.

[@voceanima3008]

You all, miserables, can speak like this about this goddess of piano and true German patriot only because the Second World War, unfortunately for the mankind, ended as it ended. Long, eternal live in the Walhalla to Elly Ney! Joe Fallisi

[@lunchmind]

Sorry but I must disagree. Ask the victims of the Nazi regime not to "harp on her political convictions". She has no business playing Beethoven.

[@TB-us7el]

May I ask what anyone here knows of her convictions. She lived freely within Germany during WWII, therefore any horrible thing can be attributed to her? Do we have access to her diaries or are people just trying to read the mind of someone long deceased.

[@causabon99]

It is so sad that she was a Nazi. Yet art doesn't offer salvation - Heydrich the very competent violinist for example.

[@adpynacker1]

I don't think this is her at her best in this performance. By the way, she only ever had two lessons with Leschetizky.

[@pianopera]

That's interesting...what is your source of information?

[@adpynacker1]

I have had access to his diaries in which he annotates the lessons he gave.

[@pianopera]

I wish these diaries could be published online!