Search - Manuel de Falla, Isaac Albeniz, Jesus Guridi :: World of the Harp

Ravishing Robles

J. Kara Russell | Hollywood - the cinderblock Industrial cubicle | 11/13/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"(re edited on 7/21/09)

This is my third try to write something I feel is "right" about this CD. My apologies to the person who found my first version helpful - this should be moreso.



Marissa Robles is a harpist of incredible power, and you can hear this in her music. Perhaps the strongest woman harpist (and stronger than many male harpists, too). Her power is fully evident in the brooding Spanish pieces that open this CD. These pieces are a great introduction to what sets her apart as a harpist, and also show her unique strengths in all senses of the words.



This series of "The World of ..." CDs are a group, and are intended to give you a cross section of the particular instrument. These opening pieces are not the most traditional of all repertoire, and serve more as a personal introduction to this world class harpist. These also set the record straight that the harp is only "soft and tinkly." (The fourth piece does allow her to demonstrate her delicacy with speed and precision.)



Following this is an almost random selection of more traditional harp repertoire. My only complaint about this CD is that randomness. I like a CD to have an internal flow musically, and if it does not, to have a "ground plan" that it is following, and I can't find that here. On the downside, this makes it a CD that is not good atmosphere music, on the plus side, it makes it a CD that is hard to ignore... but this isn't one I reach for as regularly as others. I prefer Robles's album of harp orchestral pieces. That CD also includes the beautiful Beethoven Variations on a Swiss Song which is very traditional repertoire, and beautifully executed.



I would say the two standout pieces on this are the Chopin prelude which shows great skill. Repeated notes on the harp are problematic, so it takes a master to translate this piano piece to the harp. Salzedo's Chanson de la Nuit is ubiquitous, but it becomes the real standout on this CD because of her unique interpretation. It takes a harpist of her standing to interpret this with oriental flavor, using the fingernail to pick parts of the melody before entering the "spanish" section of the piece (I believe this is written into the piece, but her interpretation gives a much stronger stylistic diferrence to the sections). Her interpretation is a lesson for all harpists in making a well known piece your own.

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