Glière: Concerto for Harp and Orchestra in E flat major Op. 74

The Gliere Harp Concerto has always been a favourite among harp enthusiasts: written in the 1930s, the work’s stylistic features are reminiscent of the Viennese classical style united with Russian romantic nationalism.

This disc highlights the extraordinary talent of the Official Harpist to H.R.H. the Prince of Wales, Claire Jones. She is joined by renowned flautist William Bennet OBE, and the English Chamber Orchestra to complete the release with Mozart’s Concerto for flute, harp and Orchestra and Debussy’s Danses pour Harpe Chromatique. Claire has performed for members of the Royal Family on more then 70 occasions and recently premiered a brand new Royal Commission by Patrick Hawes at Highgrove House with the Philharmonia. She is also featured on a new release with the National Youth Choir of Scotland, performing Britten’s A Ceremony of Carols (released on September 20 SIGCD228).

Patrick Hawes' Highgrove documentary is broadcast on 23rd September on BBC2. It is all about the writing of his piece The Highgrove Suite which is due out on Classic FM next month, guaranteeing good exposure for Patrick and Claire Jones.

Time and again, the ARD International Music Competition in Munich has been the site of concert performances that make us forget that the name of this game is scoring points with a jury and keeping mistakes down to a minimum. All of a sudden the idea of a competition departs from our minds, and we concentrate our full attention on the concert event, suddenly opening up to the adventure, audacity, spontaneity and the perfect musical moments. Three such highlights with first prize winners are combined on this CD. Sebastian Manz, first prize winner in 2008 played Mozart's Clarinet Concerto as originally composed, on the basset horn, accompanied by the young shooting star on the conducting horizon, Cornelius Meister. French harpist Emmanuel Ceysson enchanted the audience with the iridescent wealth of colour in the rarely performed Harp Concerto by Reinhold Glière in September of 2009. And Hyeyoon Park, at 17 years of age the youngest finalist in the history of the Competition, revealed authentic prodigy qualities in a work overflowing with lush Hollywood charm, the Violin Concerto by Erich Wolfgang Korngold.

Three first prize winners at the ARD International Music Competition in Munich.

Mozart's Clarinet Concerto in the original version for basset horn with Sebastian Manz and shooting star conductor Cornelius Meister.

Repertoire rarity: the Harp Concerto by Reinhold Glière, played by Emmanuel Ceysson, principal harpist at the Paris Opéra.

The exceptional talent at the 2009 Competition: at only 17 years of age, Hyeyoon Park made history at the Competition and thrilled the audience with Erich Wolfgang Korngold's Violin Concerto.

Booklet: English, German, French