Customer Reviews

Harp Concertos

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

One of Decca/London's 2 CD sets, providing two discs for the price of one (even less, when downloaded from Amazon.com on MP3), this set is a bargain as well as a treat.

It's lovely to hear from Mme. Robles in her concerted repertoire. The Handel, Boieldieu and Rodrigo concerti have hardly ever been in better hands (the Rodrigo transcription was made at the request of the Spanish harpist Nicanor Zabaleta, who played it brilliantly as well), and it's a delight hearing them again in such excellent sound.

It was also wonderful to get another example of the art of the Welsh harpist Osian Ellis, for many years the principal harpist of the London Symphony Orchestra, and the leading exponent of that Welsh art form called Penillion (the art of improvisation in which the harpist sings one melody while accompanying himself/herself with another). I wish some of this brilliant work had made its way to CD; there was an early mono Decca 10" LP of Ellis performances (perhaps there were others); everyone should have been lucky enough to hear it for themselves. The Gliere concerto is not a memorable piece, but pleasant enough, and played to a fare-thee-well by Mr. Ellis.

I love the harp version (was it the original?) of the Op. 4 (organ) concerto by Handel; the Mozart Flute and Harp Concerto is beautifully done here as well. Especially at the price, but under almost any circumstances, this would be among my recommendations. You simply can't go wrong with this release.

For those of us who are particularly fond of Harp music, I found this CD to be delightful. Though already familiar with the Handel, Mozart and Boieldieu concerti, the von Dittersdorf was not as well known to me and turned out to be especially charming, with its spritely and at times almost rollicking melodies. All the soloists on this CD are in top form and the balance between harp and orchestras is just right. Although I did not much care for the Glinka concerto or the arrangement for Harp of the Concerto de Aranjuez of Rodrigo, there is much here to enjoy.
E.J. from San Diego

Boldieu's classic harp concerto will lift your spirits and transport you to that lovely mystical place where all is well!