The Untold Story of Adele aus der Ohe
“Imagine a musical artist who plays the biggest American venues, who gets rave reviews wherever she goes, who plays with the biggest stars of her day. Then she disappears . . .”
In this first ever biography, Adele aus der Ohe is revealed through personal letters, newspaper articles, and poetry. This provocative and forgotten story tells of the glories and struggles, of an artist, a female artist, at the turn of the century.
Adele aus der Ohe was a child prodigy, playing her debut concert at age ten. By age twelve, she became a student of Franz Liszt. As a performer and composter, she was a true superstar, playing with Tchaikovsky at the opening of Carnegie Hall, performing fifty-one times with the Boston Symphony Orchestra and touring throughout the world. Yet today she is unknown. This is the remarkable story of Adele aus der Ohe.
“You have seen something great done at last, and by a woman!”
Interview
LaWayne talks with Alison Young at Minnesota Public Radio for their Music With Minnesotans program.
Awards
Red Seal Choice awarded by International Piano magazine of London, UK.
Silver Medal at the Foreword Book of the Year awards in the performing arts category.
Praise
"Adele aus der Ohe has at last found her biographer. LaWayne Leno writes about her with warmth and affection. His book draws us irresistibly into the world of this highly gifted pupil of Franz Liszt, and we, like the author, come to admire her extraordinary musicianship. We cannot help but marvel, too, at the shroud of neglect that descended on her career and obscured her from our view. Other students of Liszt who were her contemporaries - Friedheim, Sauer, Rosenthal, Lamond, and others - have long since entered the Pantheon. Mr. Leno must be thanked for bringing Adele aus der Ohe out of the shadows and, through his highly readable biography, returning her to their ranks."
–Alan Walker, Author of the 3-volume prize-winning biography of Franz Liszt and Professor Emeritus of Music at McMaster University.
"A most welcome addition to the Lisztian bibliography. This well-documented, easy to read book brings to life a fascinating musician, someone who definitely deserves to be better known. LaWayne Leno's elegant and accessible prose will make Adele aus der Ohe a more familiar name in the piano world. Of particular interest are the extensive excerpts from newspapers, letters and other original documents; through them Mr. Leno paints a colorful and detailed picture of this fascinating period in the history of music. The contemporary descriptions of her playing, sometimes bordering on poetic, make us become almost a part of her enthusiastic audiences."
–Alexandre Dossin, concert pianist, American Liszt Society Board of Directors, Professor of Piano at the University of Oregon School of Music
"A fascinating, inspiring, and well-documented narrative about the life and career of a major figure in the annals of pianism. Aus der Ohe has been unjustly forgotten, and this volume finally brings us her story against a vivid historical background."
–Donald Manildi, Curator, International Piano Archives at Maryland (IPAM)
“I truly enjoyed meeting this great pianist and, even if you are not the biography type, I think you will too. LaWayne finds a great balance between storytelling and documentation. The dramatic story of how Adele rose to the height of fame and then lost her place in American pianistic history in post war Berlin is quite moving.”
–Gail Fischler, Piano Addict
