Reinhold Glière Harp Concerto
Virtuosic harp writing and a wealth of melody.
About the video
- Filmed 13 August 2020.
- The video is approximately 30 minutes.
Reinhold Glière was born in Kyiv, in present-day Ukraine, and later taught in both Kyiv and Moscow. As a composer, he remained committed to a colourful late-Romantic musical language, with a generous gift for melody and clearly defined Classical forms. His Harp Concerto from 1938 is one of his most frequently performed works.
The concerto was written for the harpist Ksenia Erdeli, one of the leading virtuosos of her time. Glière worked so closely with her on the harp part that he wanted to credit her as co-composer, an offer she declined. The result is a solo part that brings out the harp’s remarkable range of expression, from the lyrical and songful to dazzling virtuosity.
The first movement is characterised by broad melodic lines and Romantic warmth. The middle movement takes the form of a theme and variations, allowing the harp to emerge in a shifting array of colours and expressions. In the lively finale, Classical lightness is combined with elements of Russian folk music and dance rhythms, bringing the concerto to an energetic and brilliant conclusion.
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The music
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Rejngold Glière Harp Concerto
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Participants
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Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra
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Nathalie Stutzmann conductor
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Xavier de Maistre harp
