Customer Reviews

Harp Concertos

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Even if you're not a big fan of harp music, this wonderful disc is still a must-have. Containing music both well-known (the Handel concerto) and little known (the Dittersdorf) it also contains the masterpiece of the French late-classic composer Boieldieu -- his wonderful harp concerto. It is a memorable work, and bears a very individual stamp. The brisk and lyric opening movement has harmonic intimations of the Romantic period to come, as well as a limpid Classical clarity. The minor key slow movement is lovely and haunting, and the finale even one-ups the slow movement. A rondo in ostensible major-key, its main theme has an oscillation into the minor mode that almost sends shivers up your back, so visceral is its impact, though subtle nonetheless: it is a truly wondrous movement, haunting, achingly beautiful. The magnificent playing of the great Marisa Robles does full justice to the wonderful pieces on the album, and the Academy of St Martin-in-the-Fields is splendid. As bonuses, solo harp works by Mozart and Beethoven round out a fabulous menu of delectable works. If beauty in music is not your cup of tea, then by all means buy some John Cage (or acid rock or whathaveyou); but otherwise, you'll be delighted with this exquisite disc!

I have loved Handel's harp concerto Op.4, No.6. There has been many recordings but this rendition has been my favorite. Thanks to listening chance through Amazon, I could stop my long journey of search for this version. The rendition of Iona Brown and Marisa Robles is a little bit faster than that of others, which worked very well. Of course, other harp pieces in this CD are great and beautiful as well.

Whenever I listened to this CD, I feel warmth and peace of mind. It's unbelievable that you can get the precious thing with money of only $[money].

I bought this for the Handel and was immediately taken with the clarity of tone and an overall crystalline ambiance to the sound. There isn't a slip up anywhere on this recording. The performance is clean and the balance is extraordinary especially considering the soft sound of the harp opposed by an orchestra. This was no problem for the engineers and I don't know of any other recording of Harp concerti that is as successful as this one.

First on the disc is the Handel and this concerto is pretty famous. It also exists as an organ concerto and both versions are valid. The organ sound is quite different than the harp so the 2 versions can almost sound like different works. Handel's writing is engaging, supple and energetic. He has never written an awkward phrase that I'm aware of. His music always has strong direction forward and is brilliantly logical. This is no exception and the rhythmic energy in the music seems rooted in a lively dance-like bounce. I was literally doing a boogaloo in my chair while grinning widely as the music played. Ha! This is great stuff!

The 2nd work on the disc is a Boieldieu concerto and it has characteristics more typical of the Romantic period. Probably the high point of this piece is the slow central movement. This is very beautiful music that has plenty of drama to offset the gentle tinkling of Robles' Harp. His use of diminished chords and moderate dissonance gives a more modern impression than the Handel or the Dittersdorf. (which follows it on the disc) The Rondo Finale uses a line that is at first dissonant and then resolves partly into a slightly unsettling minor chord. This is alternated over and over with contrasting material and perhaps the theme is a bit tiresome after all the returns. This is what a Rondo does though so you will know this theme thoroughly by the time the concerto ends.

Next on the CD is a Carl Ditters von Dittersdorf concerto that is an excellent work. This sweetly melodic concerto shows why he was an extremely popular composer who was lauded during his lifetime. I think this is one of his best efforts. It is easy to get into and the music has logic and beauty and will carry the listener easily along with it. Robles is at home in all three, exhibiting complete control of her complex instrument. The last 3 tracks are single movement bon bons of lesser importance, but that doesn't mean they aren't pleasurable to hear.

The only shortcoming I found was the liner notes. They are short and the information is misleading at times. I would expect a major label like London to check facts presented in the notes. The Theme, Variations and Rondo Pastorale is said to be attributed to Mozart. Instead of elaberating on that, the writer discusses another work not even on this disc and then gives an incorrect Kochel number for it. It took me a few minutes on the internet and a little sleuthing at home to discover the work "attributed to Mozart" is really by Eberl and the Rondo section is based on the Finale of Mozart's String Trio in Eb, K 563.
Of course the liner notes are not why someone buys a CD. If you like harp music in particular and enjoy well written concerti, you absolutely can not go wrong here. This is first class music all the way. Performance, sound, balance and content are all superior. At mid price, its a steal.

Simply fantastic. Any classical music lover would love this CD. Beautiful pieces, beautifully and expressively performed. Harp with orchestra. I play this several times a week.
I have always loved harp music, am a harpist, and this is essential listening. Beyond that, the overall presentation is very well thought out, so that the whole effect is more than the individual (very fine) pieces.
I am amassing a little library of CDs with harp music, and taken as a whole, this is my favorite so far.

This CD is just beautiful. If you enjoy classical music and/or are looking for music to relax you after a busy day. This CD can help. I especially enjoy listening to this CD when you need to clean,cook it makes the task more enjoyable. (If you can call cleaning enjoyable)
It is great to listen to it when you are reading, having people over for dinner...anytime really.
I hope you like it as much as I have. Happy listening!

All the reviews here are gushing about the music and I mostly just want to add my agreement - one person here gave it 1 star because there was accompaniment, and he just wanted unaccompanied harp music. Fair warning: the label says "harp concertos" and that means there will be accompaniment with the harp. Everyone who knew what they were getting liked what they got very much, and I am among them!

One other thing: you might be tempted by a 2-disk set from London that includes most of the music on this disk: Harp Concertos. The Handel harp concerto is there, the Boieldieu and Dittersdorf is there. But the other works on the present disk are not there. So what else is there on that 2-disk set? Mozart's flute and harp concerto, and Rodrigo's Concierto de Aranjuez. Both very nice works, and I especially love the Rodrigo. But those are very easy to find, so I recommend this disk because the works here are harder to find.

A few recommendations in case you want the works included on that 2-disk set:

Mozart: Flute & Harp Concerto; Reinecke: Harp Concerto; Rodrigo: Concierto Serenata - All very nice. Be sure to notice that the Rodrigo piece there is the "Concierto Serenata" and not the "Concierto de Aranjuez." Anyway, this is my top choice for the Mozart flute & harp concerto. Something else to consider: an equally nice recording of the flute & harp concerto is available as part of one of those very good deal box sets: Mozart: The Wind Concertos, Serenades [Box Set]

As for the Concierto de Aranjuez, my top choice is probably Rodrigo: Concierto de Aranjuez; Fantasía para un Gentilhombre which is also available with different companion pieces here: Rodrigo: Complete Concertos for Guitar and Harp. I can't decide which of those two I'd rather have.... Anyway, a very good alternative for the Concierto de Aranjuez is in the Yepes box set: Guitarra española [Box Set]. Loads of lovely music there. But it's all with a guitar rather than a harp, and the thing on the 2-disk set is a transcription for harp. Sorry about that. The way I plan to solve this problem myself is with a very intriguing disk from Naxos: Rodrigo: Complete Orchestral Music, Vol. 9. That has harp transcriptions of both Concierto de Aranjuez and Concierto Serenata.

(Note that the Concierto Serenata on the Mozart disk above is also the transcription for harp. If you want the guitar version, it's on the "Complete Concertos for Guitar and Harp" set. But watch out: that set does not include the transcription for harp, so for that the Mozart disk is the only one I can recommend because I haven't heard the Naxos disk yet.)

Whew! Point is: IMHO, buy this disk, not the 2-disk set. Also buy either the Mozart disk or the Böhm box; either one of the Rodrigo options or, maybe even better, the Yepes box; and if you want the Concierto de Aranjuez transcribed for harp, try the Naxos disk.

While we're on the topic of the Concierto de Aranjuez - this is far off topic, as the work is not on the disk being reviewed, but I cannot help myself - don't miss Miles Davis' take on it: Sketches of Spain.

A harp is such a beautiful sounding instrument and it is played so wonderfully here. The orchestra sounds great, too. The pieces were composed by masters and are absolutely gorgeous to listen to. It feels like my mind is being lovingly caressed. This is definitely a terrific CD to put on when you want to chill out and relax.

I bought this cd as mp3 and I listen to it everyday, it includes music from differnt musical eras, and the Harp sounds great, five stars ....

This Cd was deceiving to me. I am so sorry that I bought it brand new!
I expected harp music and it was the classics so don't be fooled by the Harp on the cover because you hear very little Harp being played in the music. I would say 14% Harp all the rest fluffy classical music.