"Today is the now-annual Dame Myra Hess Day at the National Gallery here in London. Piers Lane - a Hess 'grand-pupil' via his teacher, the late Yonty Solomon - is artistic director of the event which commemorates Hess's daily lunchtime concerts held in the Gallery during World War II, with music performed in the Barry Rooms where her series took place - though we have the paintings back now.

This year's event also celebrates the vital contribution to that series of her friend Howard Ferguson the composer, whose Partita for Two Pianos will be performed at lunchtime by the Contiguglia Brothers from New York, themselves former pupils of Hess. There's a discussion chaired by Piers mid-afternoon, and this evening he and Tasmin Little will play war-scarred violin sonatas by Elgar and Poulenc."

 - Jessica Duchen's Classical Music Blog, November 25, 2008

Lunchtime saw an extraordinary performance by the Contiguglia Twins from New York, who played the socks off Howard Ferguson, Schubert and Beethoven. They came to Britain to study with Hess as young boys and played the Schubert Variations on an Original Theme for their Wigmore Hall debut. And... I've heard of identical, but this was quite something. I'm reliably informed that you can tell them apart when you know them well."

 - Jessica Duchen's Classical Music Blog, November 26, 2008

"It was wonderful to meet you and John and I think that you made the day so special indeed - everyone was so totally excited about the day and I think it is going down as the most memorable." - Lee Riley, National Gallery contact

"May I reiterate what a huge pleasure it was to have you playing at the National Gallery. You are such wonderful probing musicians and pianists and people - and your listening and ensemble are extraordinary. So thank you, thank you, for bringing such pleasure and insight to our day." - Piers Lane, Pianist and Director of Myra Hess Day