Helma Elsner (Harpsichord)

Born: October 22, 1903 - Duisburg, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
Died: March 30, 1965 - Duisburg, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

The renowned German harpsichordist, Wilhelmine (Helma) Elsner (born as Jansen), manifested her interest in music at an ealy age. She studied first with private teachers, and then at the Consevatories in Essen and Berlin.

After graduating with honors, Helma Elsner took graduate courses and taught at the famous Folkwang School in Essen for 4 years. Then she concentrated on her harpsichord studies exclusively and concertized with great success in many cities in Europe. She was a performer with the Chamber Orchestra of the Sudwest Tonstudio in Stuttgart. She was married to Eduard Elsner. Among her students was probably Martin Galling.

Helma Elsner recorded during the 1950's solo keyboard works and harpsichord concertos by J.S. Bach; fantasias for harpsichord by Georg Philipp Telemann; concertos for harpsichord by Joseph Haydn; and keyboard music by J.S. Bach's sons. She also participated in recordings of cantatas by J.S. Bach and George Frideric Handel.

Sources:
Liner notes to various LP's from the 1950's
Oliver Kehnen (July 2025)
Bits & pieces from other sources..
Contributed by Aryeh Oron (December 2015 - July 2025)

Helma Elsner: Short Biography | Bach Discography: Recordings of Instrumental Works

Recordings of Bach Cantatas & Other Vocal Works

Conductor

As

Works

Rolf Reinhardt

Harpsichord

[C-2] (1954, LP): BWV 203, BWV 211

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