1825: Echoes of Vienna on Historical Harp Elisabeth Plank

• Elias Parish Alvars (1808 - 1849):
• 1 Gran studio, Op. 84 “La Mandoline” 08:08
• Louis Spohr (1784 - 1859):
• 2 Fantasia for Harp in C Minor, Op. 35 08:38
• Elias Parish Alvars: Illustrazioni dei poeti Italiani, Op. 97:
• 3 Illustrazioni dei poeti Italiani, Op. 97: No. 1, Andantino con moto 03:58
• 4 Illustrazioni dei poeti Italiani, Op. 97: No. 2, Andante 01:50
• 5 Illustrazioni dei poeti Italiani, Op. 97: No. 3, Andantino con moto 02:03
• Gioacchino Rossini (1792 - 1868):
• 6 Harp Sonata in E-Flat Major 02:37
• Elias Parish Alvars:
• 7 Sérénade in B-Flat Major, Op. 83 08:30
• Ignaz Pleyel (1757 - 1831):
• 8 Rondo in E-Flat Major, Ben 613 (Version for Harp) 04:22
• Franz Lachner (1803 - 1890): 3 Songs without Words for Harp:
• 9 3 Songs without Words for Harp: No. 1, Andantino quasi Allegretto 03:07
• 10 3 Songs without Words for Harp: No. 2, Adagio non troppo 02:26
• 11 3 Songs without Words for Harp: No. 3, Andante 03:51
• Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 - 1827):
• 12 6 Variations on a Swiss Song, WoO 64 (Version for Harp) 03:54
• Charles Nicholas Bochsa (1789 - 1856):
• 13 Rondeau sur le trio “Zitti Zitti” du “Barbier de Seville” 07:03
• Total Runtime 01:00:27

Info for 1825: Echoes of Vienna on Historical Harp

“1825” – the title of the upcoming album of the young Austrian harpist Elisabeth Plank takes reference to the instrument of this recording, the historical double-action harp which was created in that year by the Paris firm of the Érard Brothers. The selection of works makes the emergence of an original harp style audible, which foremost consisted of a stylistic distinction between harp and piano, which was first made possible by the further technical development of both instruments during that time. The album presents compositions by Louis Spohr, Ludwig van Beethoven and Ignaz Pleyel, which were still written for the single-action harp, next to works for the double-action harp by Elias Parish Alvars, without any doubt the most popular harp player of his time, by Franz Lachner, Charles Nicholas Bochsa and Gioacchino Rossini. “For me this album represents the start of an intensive examination of the historical double harp and of the history of the harp in Vienna. This release is therefore intended as an invitation to people to immerse themselves in a world of sound unknown today and in an unfamiliar aspect of Vienna” (Elisabeth Plank).

Elisabeth Plank, harp

Elisabeth Plank
As an internationally sought-after soloist and ambassador of the harp, Elisabeth Plank has firmly established herself on concert stages, presenting her instrument in a versatile and captivating manner rich in timbral variety and textures.

Her concerts take her to renowned international venues and festivals, including the Musikverein Vienna, Harpa in Reykjavík, Dubai Opera, Konzerthaus Berlin, NOSPR, MDR Musiksommer, and the Festival Internacional de Música Clásica Bogotá. As a soloist, she has performed with orchestras such as the RSO Vienna, the Baroque ensemble of the Vienna Symphony Orchestra, the Vienna Chamber Orchestra, the NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra, the Moldova Philharmonic Iasi, and the Thüringer Symphoniker.

From 2019 to 2021, Elisabeth Plank was “Great Talent” of the Wiener Konzerthaus. She became the first harpist to serve as a musical ambassador for The New Austrian Sound of Music. Her three solo albums have received widespread acclaim from the international press. At the end of 2023, Mozart’s Double Concerto was released with the RSO Vienna as part of the Next Generation Mozart Soloists-series.

Born in Vienna in 1991, Elisabeth Plank studied with Adelheid Blovsky-Miller and Mirjam Schröder at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna (mdw). She currently holds a teaching position at mdw and is the founder and artistic director of the Vienna Harp Days.

Booklet for 1825: Echoes of Vienna on Historical Harp