Petra van der Heide is not the only harpist recently to have chosen Camac harps for her orchestra. It's been going mental in Mouzeil, with harp orders from the Orchestra National de France, Orchestre National des Pays de la Loire, Orchestre Philharmonique du Maroc, Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra, Orquesta Nacional de España and the Opera de Valencia! And, Line Gaudard, Principal Harp with the Bern Symphony Orchestra and member of the Quatuor Harpège, also recently chose two Atlantide Prestiges: one for the opera pit, and one for symphony concerts.
"I met Joël Garnier twenty years ago, at the Journées Suisse de la harpe. I was immediately impressed by his passion for innovation, his drive to make the harp an ever-better instrument. Some other harp manufacturers come across as arrogant in comparison; they have made their harps the same way for fifty years, and as far as they are concerned that is the end of the matter.
Jakez François, Eric Piron and their team at Camac have continued Joël's spirit of humility. They are always listening to harpists - after all, it is we who play on the harps - and are prepared to accept criticism and alter details for the better. Some of us suggested they improve their harp trolley, for example, which they did...
In any case, I had the chance to try Nathalie Châtelaine's Camac harp during our work together in the Quatuor Harpège. I was bowled over both by the harp's extraordinary sound, and its physically easy playability. In the orchestra, the clear sound you need is already there in the harp! And at the end of long operas - like Wagner's - the effortless touch means I never have tired arms, hands or a sore back any more. I went to Paris to choose two harps for the orchestra - one has a very clear tone, ideal for the opera, and the other an especially powerful bass, which I use in symphony work. Eric Piron made me a fantastic offer - why is no other harp manufacturer willing to make an offer on two harps bought together?
I have been playing the new harps at work for three weeks now, and my colleagues couldn't be more impressed by the clear, direct and even sound. I'm looking forward to our upcoming tour of Germany, when our chief conductor will hear the harps for the first time!"
