Dame Myra Hess, Britain’s most celebrated concert pianist, became a national icon through her legendary lunchtime concerts at the National Gallery, which took place every weekday throughout World War II, bolstering Londoners’ morale. In the first biography of Hess in nearly 50 years, Jessica Duchen offers a compelling and nuanced portrait of this charming, complex and formidable woman. Join the acclaimed author and Sunday Times and BBC Music Magazine critic in conversation with Nigel Hess, Ivor Novello Award-winning composer and Dame Myra’s great-nephew, as they explore Dame Myra’s remarkable life.

An event from Jewish Book Week 2025.