Mondscheinsonate: Die Volkspianistin Elly Ney

Elly Ney (1882-1968) is a myth, a legend. Some worshipped her as the high priestess of Beethoven, for others she was Hitler's pianist. With the help of contemporary witnesses, experts and music researchers this film explores the real causes for Elly Ney's rapid career as a pianist, her great successes in America and her cultural-political entanglements in the Third Reich. Texts and partly unpublished footage complete the film and audio productions about one of the most prominent and controversial pianist of the 20th century. An exciting search for traces in the life and work of Elly Ney.

CD 1: ELLY NEY & FRIENDS PERFORM MOZART CHAMBER MUSIC
Elly Ney (piano) · Wilhelm Stross (violin - Piano Quartets) and Heinz Endres (violin - Piano Trio) · Ingo Sinnhoffer (viola) · Ludwig Hoelscher (violoncello)

Recorded at the Stadthalle Tutzing during the Tutzing Music Festival, 24 & 27 August 1961
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
1 Quartet for piano, violin, viola and violoncello in G minor (K 478)
2 Quartet for piano, violin, viola and violoncello in E flat major (K 493)
3 Trio for piano, violin and violoncello in G major (K 564)

CD 2: ELLY NEY UND IHR CHAUFFEUR (in German)
Frithjof von Bodungen granted exclusive access to his tape archive for the making of this radio feature. During the last decade of Elly Ney's life, Frithjof von Bodungen was her confidante and chauffeur. During their journeys by car, the then 22-year-old recorded his conversations with the pianist. The result is a unique audio document in which Elly Ney talks about her private life and art while travelling to concerts.