GINASTERA - BOIELDIEU: Harp Concertos [CD de audio] Staatskapelle Dresden, Ginastera - Boildieu and Siegfried Kurz

This disc explores that rarity of the classical repertoire, the harp concerto. The musical characteristics of the harp can provide somewhat of a challenge for the composer if writing a concerto for the instrument, but this disc boasts two wonderful examples that show seemingly endless possibilities. Frenchman FrançoisAdrien Boieldieu (1775 1834) was probably bestknown for his 40 operas, but after developing a close friendship with Sébastien Érard, the piano maker who was investigating and implementing improvements to the harp mechanism Boieldieu began to write pieces for the harp. With the lyricism of the instrument showcased in the second movement Andante, over slowmoving strings, and fast fingerwork dominating the Allegro agitato finale, Boieldieus concerto stands in marked contrast to that of Alberta Ginasteras. Here, after a fiery, almost aggressive opening few bars, the music gradually progresses towards the eerie chromaticism in the second movement. An extended virtuosic solo cad