1825 / Various - 1825 [CD]

"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).