[.ca] Harp Ctos

Delicious, a classic recording!:
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 Stamitz) 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 to tea, then by all means buy some John Cage (or acid rock or whathaveyou); but otherwise, you'll be delighted with this exquisite disc!

My all time favorite...:
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 $\omoney\c.

Exquisite Harp Perfornance of Baroque and Classical Music:
Anyone who has the Penguin Guide knows this has the highest possible rating given, three stars and a rosette for an especially outstanding recording. While I wouldn't call this an indispensible disc, it certainly is perfect for those times when you want to just chill and enjoy. Why not indispensible? I believe that term is reserved for core repertoire performed in a manner most likely to succeed with the most likely fans. This is not mainstream repertoire except for the opening Handel concerto. Add to this that Handel wrote this concerto for the organ, not the harp!The harp isn't mainstream either and the amount of concerti written for it is meager when compared to the piano, violin, flute, trumpet, horn, oboe, clarinet, cello and well I think you get the idea. So is there any other reason to buy this besides something to chill out with or help the insomniac get to sleep? Absolutely! Marisa Robles may be the most sensitive and polished harpist represented in the catalog today. Her playing is nearly picture perfect and her command of dynamics is impressive to say the least. When I say "picture perfect" I pick words carefully because I can't listen to this without seeing a harp in my mind. Her playing evokes something in the listener far beyond routine and this experience is worth paying a lot more than the mid-price cost of this disc. The sound is fastastic and the Penguin Guide is quick to point this out as part of the reason for bestowing their prized rosette on this recording. Iona Brown leads the Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields to support Robles and I don't see how their performance could have been bettered. On the opening Handel concerto, the glassine sounds are so pure you will be won over before the opening phrase is finsihed. Immediately I was aware that this is no routine recording and I don't think anyone will be disappointed with the sound or superb playing found here. If there is anything to quibble with, it's the liner notes. Pretty bad as liner notes go for classical recordings. Inaccuracies and frankly some lazy or sloppy reserach are the problems. I'm a Mozart fanatic and when I saw this disc had a hitherto previously unknown piece of Mozart on it, I was pretty exited. After hearing the track of the "Theme, Variations and Rondo Pastorale" I knew part of it sounded familiar, but from where? At first I was thinking it might be music that dates from about the same time as his Flute and Harp Concerto KV 299. I checked that out and it was a false lead. This morning it hit me, "That's from the String Trio KV 563!" I just varified right before writing this, that it is from the Finale of the String Trio in Eb KV 563. If I could find that in less than 24 hours, it seems someone from Decca would have been able to figure that out too. Anyway, apparently the composer Eberl put the harp version together using Mozart's music as material for the Variations and Rondo heard here. In any event, it's charming and fetchingly played by Robles. Even if you aren't a fan of harp music and think it's facile or "too plinky sounding" I think you will still enjoy this special recording. If you are a fan of harp music, you may even find this indispensible. In the end, my thought is this; It doesn't matter what the instruments are or even who the composer is, every once in a while there is a collaberation that is special. Anyone who appreciates those special gems that are uncommon will get joy from this disc. I agree with the Penguin Guide that this is one of those rare gems and is worth far more than the modest pricing of this recording.

• Harp Concertos, Op. 4 No. 6: Andante - Allegro
• Harp Concertos, Op. 4 No. 6: Larghetto
• Harp Concertos, Op. 4 No. 6: Allegro moderato
• Harp Concertos In 3 Tempi: Allegro biliante -
• Harp Concertos In 3 Tempi: Andante lento
• Harp Concertos In 3 Tempi: Allegro agitato
• Harp Concerto: Allegro molto
• Harp Concerto: Larghetto -- Dittersdorf
• Harp Concerto: Rondeau: Allegretto -- Dittersdorf
• Theme, Variations And Rondo pastorale
• Variations for Harp
• Six Variations on a Swiss Song