French Music for Harp and Strings

Maurice Ravel (Composer), Erik Satie (Composer), Claude Debussy (Composer), Jacques Ibert (Composer), Gabriel Pierne (Composer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Composer: Maurice Ravel, Erik Satie, Claude Debussy, Jacques Ibert, Gabriel Pierne
• Audio CD (September 18, 2001)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Naxos
• ASIN: B00005N8DR
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #205,353 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #63 in Music > Classical > Instruments > Strings > Harp

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Superb collection and performances, March 30, 2006

By 

Cincin (San Francisco, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: French Music for Harp and Strings (Audio CD)

I vehemently disagree with the negative review entitled "flawed recording and shakey accompaniment." This is one of my favorite CDs, both because of the excellent selections and superb performances, especially by the harpist. In particular, the performance of "La fille aux cheveux de lin" exhibits a rare sensitivity. I own other recordings containing many of these selections, and I find the performances here to be the best. The arrangements of the original piano pieces are also well done. I recommend this CD without reservation.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Musical Marvel, June 29, 2009

By 

Rebecca*rhapsodyinblue* (CA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: French Music for Harp and Strings (Audio CD)

I invite music lovers who have genuine appreciation for French classical music to lend an ear to this album, "French Music for Harp And Strings," and enrich your listening experience. I can guarantee that after giving it a listen, your journey to the world of classical music will never be the same again. Your musical sensibilities will be deepened as you delight in the heavenly sounds of harp and strings, which is a rare combination but very beautiful. You will marvel at a repertoire of impressive masterpieces from Claude Debussy, Erik Satie, Maurice Ravel, Jacques Ibert and Gabriel Pierné as played by a fine harpist Ellen Sejersted Bodtker with the Vertavo String Quartet made up of skilled musicians: Berit Cardas and Oyvor Volle (violins), Henninge Landaas (viola) and Bjorg Vaerne (cello). The Vertavo String Quartet is one of the most outstanding string quartets in Europe. On tracks ten and eleven, Sjur Bjaerke plays double bass.

Let your ears capture the eternal charms of one of Debussy's beguiling masterpieces, "Reverie," which is one of my top ten classical favorites. After listening once, you will definitely want to listen over and over again because the combination of harp and violin produces such a captivating sound that makes you want to listen forever. The same is true with Satie's "Gymnopedie No. 1" for solo harp, Ravel's "Pavane Pour Une Infante Defunte" for harp and cello, Debussy's "La Fille Aux Cheveux De Lin" and "Arabesque No. 1," which are both arranged for solo harp.

This heavenly music is a marvel. Wholeheartedly recommended!

* * * * *TEN STARS* * * * *

1 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars flawed recording and shakey accompaniment, December 21, 2005

By 

Jon Fistler "subsonic wave" (Cold Northern Minnesota) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: French Music for Harp and Strings (Audio CD)

I was disappointed by this CD. The recording doesn't handle the dynamics well, and is oversaturated and distorted at peak levels on some of the tracks. On a number of tracks, the breathing of the artist is picked up by the mike at a level that is distracting. A little ambient sound lends a lifelike feel, but certain tracks picked up too much. Someone responsible for the recording process should have picked up these flaws and corrected them. Much of it should have been re-recorded.

I am not familiar enough with harp to comment on the artist's performance. I found it enjoyable, when I could ignore the technical flaws. The same cannot be said for the violinist. I cannot understand why anyone who knows anything about music would produce a CD with such a flawed performance. The violinist sounded like a high school student at best. The first time I played the CD I found myself saying 'ouch' several times. I played a portion of the flawed performance to my two high school kids, who have been in band since elementary school and both have played violin. Both of them winced and cringed when hearing the mistakes this violinist made. I prepared to play it again, and my son objected. He had heard enough.

Between the technical flaws of the recording process and the painfully obvious flaws of the violinist, this CD is unlistenable! I wish I could get my money back. This CD isn't good for anything but skeet practice. PULL!!!