Songs for Voice and Harp, with Zsófia Orlishausen.
Presented July 10, 2013 in the Hirsvogelsaal of the Tucher Schloss in Nürnberg

This new program of songs and arias with harp found its emphasis in the music of French Impressionism.

Very little classical music was composed specifically for this combination, voice and harp, yet it is beautiful and organic. The French Impressionistic composers, especially Debussy and Fauré, were the first great composers of solo harp music, elevating the instrument to a full-fledged member of the modern orchestra and expanding its possibilities of strength and color. Though these composers wrote their Melodies (songs) for piano accompaniment, the pieces shimmer with arpeggios and other harp-like colors and can often be played on the harp as well.

The second half of the program focuses on opera arias that have a specific connection to the harp: Desdemona’s „Willow-Song“ from Rossinis opera Otello as well as Sapho’s aria (Gounod’s opera Sapho) both include impressive harp solos in the original orchestral versions, while the famous lament, „Che faró senza Euridice“ (from Gluck’s Orfeo ed Euridice) reminds us of perhaps the most famous harp (lyre) player of all time, the mythical Orpheus.