La Harpe Reine (The Queen's Harp)
Xavier de Maistre,Les Arts Florissants,William Christie
La Harpe Reine (The Queen’s Harp)
Xavier de Maistre,Les Arts Florissants,William Christie
At the end of the 18th century, France and Germany developed a passion for harp music; the instrument was everywhere, in concerts and drawing rooms and many masterpieces were written for it. Queen Marie-Antoinette regularly played the pianoforte and the harp and the instrument has remained a symbol of the last two decades of the French court.
The harpist Xavier de Maistre has been leading a brilliant career for 25 years: at 22, he became solo harp at the Vienna Philharmonic and this prestigious position has opened doors on an international career. Passionate about his still little-known instrument and its extraordinary repertoire, he has chosen with William Christie the most evocative works of this golden age of the harp. They are inseparable from the image of the Queen of France, the elegance of her playing on an instrument which reached under Louis XVI unequaled refinement in workmanship,
Xavier de Maistre appears courtesy of Sony Classical.
Review
Alexandra Mathew
In late eighteenth century Paris, a person in want of a harp could search for the perfect instrument in over two hundred speciality shops, such was the harp’s popularity. While today we think of it as a fancy to occupy the leisure time of aristocratic young ladies, it was the instrument of choice for Marie-Antoinette who took a harp lesson every morning, and inspired composers to dedicate their work to the Queen. French harp virtuoso Xavier de Maistre, performing alongside Les Arts Florissants under the direction of William Christie, presents a selection of these compositions on his latest recording with Harmonia Mundi.
Among the selection is Jean-Baptiste Krumpholtz’s enchanting Concerto for harp and orchestra no. 5 Op. 7. There is something utterly beguiling about Maistre’s harp solo here – the way each note sounds and decays with an almost magical quality – as it rises out of William Christie’s orchestra. It’s as familiar as it is unfamiliar: we all recognise the sound of the instrument, but it is so infrequently showcased as a solo instrument in the classical repertoire. All the more reason to enjoy Maistre’s recording, and acquaint yourself with the beautiful strains of solo classical harp.
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