Music Feature

Anne Sebba tells the story of celebrated concert pianist Harriet Cohen, considered to be one of the most intriguing musical figures of the 20th century. A musician with a vast repertoire, she had more first performances of works than any other pianist of her day, but is scarcely known today. Long-fascinated by Cohen's story, Anne has read the 3,000 letters bequeathed to the British library to try to understand how Cohen's tempestuous private life impacted on her public performing life. Some music critics believe she was the inspiration for much of Bax's finest music. Others claim that she was jealous and possessive and responsible for preventing many of his pieces becoming better known.