Festival Strings Lucerne

Fascination Classical Music - 2nd evening

Xavier de Maistre, harp

Himmelsglanz und Donnerbass

Händel - Sinfonia. Arrival of the Queen of Sheba from: Solomon HWV 67
Dowland - Lachrimae pavan
Dowland - Lachrimae pavan
Guilmant - XVI. Paraphrase su un chœur de Judas Macchabée de Händel from: 18 pièces nouvelles op. 90 (arrangement for chamber orchestra: M. Braun)
Handel - Harp Concerto in B flat major HWV 294
Handel - Organ Concerto in F major HWV 293 (version for harp and orchestra)
Boieldieu - Harp Concerto in C major op. 82
Tchaikovsky - Serenade for String Orchestra in C major op. 48

The harp is usually associated with heavenly sounds, which of course fits in wonderfully with Christmas. However, the Advent concert with world star Xavier de Maistre proves that the instrument has an incomparably greater wealth of expressive possibilities. The charismatic Frenchman has long since made a name for himself as a musician who expands the boundaries and repertoire of his instrument with virtuosity and experimentation. A festive organ concerto is rewritten for the harp without further ado, creating touching new listening experiences. In addition, there are original compositions by Handel and Boieldieu, which fan out the enormous - and unexpected - sound spectrum of his instrument: from delicately glittering melodies to rich chords and thundering basses. With Tchaikovsky's String Serenade, the Festival Strings Lucerne contribute a true classic of the Romantic period.