Harp Concertos (Boieldieu, Alvars, Viotti) (1995)

"Boieldieu's instrument was the piano. However, in late-eighteenth-century France, the harp was much in favour and he took a marked interest in it, one product of which was his Harp Concerto (c 1895). It takes the form of the classical concerto of the time and the writing for the harp is 'pianistic'. Viotti's concertos were all written for the violin but several were reworked. Both of these works have great charm. After Erard's invention of the double-action harp in 1811 the instrument became more versatile. Parish Alvars, an Englishman taught by Frenchmen, was the father of modern harp technique, complete with its battery of special effects. His is a full-blown romantic concerto, in which the writing recalls Berlioz's description of Parish Alvars as "the Liszt of the harp". Nordmann's eloquent performances, Rampal's refined control of the orchestra, and the crystal-clear and well-balanced recording, leave nothing to be desired." (JD, Gramophone)