Harpblog

A day between the Mediterranean and the Atlantic - with Elisa Vellia, l'Espace Camac

Camac Ibérica inauguration: day two!

Here are some photos from the second part of the launch party for La Casa del Arpa. Camac Ibérica is our new partner for Spain and also Portugal, and it was great to find that two students from Portugal had made the long journey to play in the masterclass with Isabelle Moretti. A huge thank-you to Isabelle for her wisdom and her time, and well done Sophie Steiner (Austria), Selma Garcia (Spain), Juan Antonia Garcia Diaz (Spain), Catarina Rebelo (Portugal) and Ana Aroso (Portugal)! Many thanks, also, to Nuria Llopis for being our wonderful interpreter throughout the masterclass.

As I said in my last post, we are also hugely proud of Alex: no detail was too much trouble, and his organisation and planning assured the great success of the weekend. He even gave me a ride on his motorbike, which is one of the most exciting things to have happened to me for ages.

 

Waiting for it all to begin - every chair in the store was brought downstairs, including the practice room sofa

 

Pierné's Impromptu-Caprice

 

And some Nadermann

Camac Ibérica launch celebrations - first day!

La Casa del Arpa is only a few minutes' walk away from most of Madrid's most beautiful landmarks, including the Almudena cathedral pictured above. 

Here in Madrid, Camac Ibérica's launch is underway! Last night, we heard a wonderful, sell-out concert by Marie Normant, Boris Grelier and Isabelle Moretti. Marie and Boris performed some of the best repertoire the flute and harp combination has to offer, with great temperament and flair - if you think flute and harp is boring, look no further than this duo for a swift revision of opinion. From the wistful, et in Arcadia-quality of Jean Cras's Suite en Duo, to the kaleidoscope of feeling that is Piazzolla's Histoire Du Tango and the Romantic plasticity of the Saint-Saëns Fantasie Op. 124, we didn't want the first half to end. We were, however, soon comforted by the arrival of the second half. Isabelle Moretti received a standing ovation for her stunning programme, the first concert on her new harp, and featuring the first performance of her transciption of Debussy's Suite Bergamasque. When Isabelle's first notes rang out, I wondered if I had died and gone, against all the odds, to heaven. I was not the only one asking themselves this question: had it been true, St Peter would have had a busy night. Whatever happens in the afterlife, in the here and now, one thing is sure. It is not always easy to be a musician, but when you experience such music, you remember why you are doing it, what makes it all worthwhile.

 

The concert was followed by a drinks reception at the Camac Ibérica store.   "I'm on the list...Jakez, he knows me" I squeaked, as I tried to get through the door. Finally inside, it was great to find a party in full swing, that went on well into the small hours. It's just as well Spanish time runs later than in the chilly North. Isabelle's masterclass will begin today at 4PM, and we're now all up, bright-eyed and off for some tapas before it begins.

 

We are really proud of Alexander Granados, who has worked tirelessly to prepare the showroom and organise the event. It has also been brilliant that so many Spanish harpists made time to attend - muchas gracias to you all!

 

 

 

Continue reading for last night's photos!

Camac Fortieth Anniversary Celebrations, Ancenis

 

Over the long weekend of May 25th - 27th, 2012, we will be celebrating Camac's fortieth anniversary with a special festival in Ancenis.

Forty years on from when our company was founded by Joël Garnier (1940-2000), you can find Camac harps held dear in every country where the harp is played - while our factory and head offices remain where they always have been, close by Ancenis in the tiny hamlet of Mouzeil.

One of the best things about our international presence is that we come into contact with a great many, diverse and wonderful harpists. To celebrate our anniversary, we want to share the chance to hear some of our favourite artists with the public closest to home.

 

 

Here is the programme, which we hope will show off the enormous variety of styles of which the harp is capable, performed by some of the finest players of which our instrument can boast. There will be classical, jazz and rock concerts; harp orchestras from Brittany, Alsace, Singapore and the United States; workshops and lectures. There will be a substantial Camac exhibition, and Jakez will also be showing his private collection of historical and traditional harps. There will also be a substantial programme of informal concerts on the streets of Ancenis throughout the weekend - in the station, in shopping centres, campsites, and so on... 

...you can download the full programme below, and also refer to the festival website.

Download Ancenis Festival Programme

Thank-you to the town of Ancenis for welcoming us, to the team of the Théâtre Quartier Libre and all the supporters who are helping us in this adventure - may the sound of harps ring all over the town!

 

Camac Ibérica Opening Celebrations

 

To celebrate the launch of our new partner for Spain and Portugal, Camac Ibérica, Camac France are sponsoring an inaugural concert and masterclass weekend, at the Camac Ibérica store in Madrid.

On Saturday, January 14th, there will be a concert in two parts. The first part will be a flute and harp programme by Boris Grelier and Marie Normant; after the interval, Isabelle Moretti will give a solo recital. You can download the full programme here:

Download Camac Ibérica Opening Concert

On Sunday, January 15th, between 4PM and 6PM, Isabelle Moretti will give a masterclass for students. Both concert and masterclass are free of charge and open to all, but it is a good idea to reserve a place in advance.

To book as an auditor for the concert and/or masterclass, or to enquire about participating in the masterclass, please contact Sr. Alexander Granados by telephone: +34 91 006 37 27 - +34 61 964 89 68 (please do not email).

 

 

More impressions from the Concours Cité des Arts

Jean-Michel Damase, president of the jury

Photo: Jean-Marc Volta

Extensive photo galleries of the Cité des Arts competition (second round +) are available here - all photos are by Jean-Marc Volta.

 

All photos, that is, apart from this one, which I took on my phone - Godelieve Schrama, Isabelle Moretti and Milda Agazarian in the Paris metro

International Harp Competition of the Cité des Arts of Paris: FINAL RESULTS

The results of the International Harp Competition of the Cité des Arts de Paris are as follows:

Jury and prizewinners. From left to right: Xavier Gagnepain, Anneleen Lenaerts, Nancy Allen, Godelieve Schrama, Ghislaine Petit-Volta, Maureen Thiebaut, Jean-Michel Damase, Emily Hoile, Veronika Lemishenko, Isabelle Moretti (artistic director), Jakez François (principal sponsor), Milda Agazarian

 

Savarez Special Prize for the best performance of Harpe de Jade by Thierry Pécou: Coline JAGET (France)

Micheline Kahn Special Prize for the best performance of Conte Fantastique by André Caplet: Maureen THIEBAUT (France)

Third Prize, offered by Camac Harps: Veronika LEMISHENKO (Ukraine)

Second Prize, offered by Camac Harps: Emily HOILE (United Kingdom)

First Prize (Prix Louis Charpentier), offered by the Cité des Arts de Paris: Maureen THIEBAUT (France)

Congratulations to them all!

Maureen Thiebaut

 

Emily Hoile

 

Veronika Lemishenko

 

Photos: Jean-Marc Volta

Cité des Arts International Harp Competition: SECOND STAGE RESULTS

The following candidates will proceed to the final of the Cité des Arts International Harp Competition:

Maureen Thiebaut (France)

Veronika Lemishenko (Ukraine)

Emily Hoile (United Kingdom)

The final stage will take place on Sunday, November 27th, at 16h in the auditorium of the Cité des Arts de Paris.

 

Bravo and best of luck to Maureen, Emily and Veronika!

 

International Harp Competition of the Cité des Arts of Paris : FIRST ROUND RESULTS

Here in Paris, the results of the Cité des Arts competition’s first stage are just out. The following candidates will pass to round two:

Lucie Berthomier (France)

Emily Hoile (England)

Coline Jaget (France)

Veronika Lemishenko (Ukraine)

Emily Levin (USA)

Maureen Thiebaut (France)

Emma Wauters (Belgium)

 

Congratulations to them all!

Please note the following timetable changes: the competition will continue tomorrow, Thursday November 24th, from 14:00 to 18:00, and on Friday, November 25th, from 13:00 to 16:00. 

The results will be announced on Friday at 17:00.

Cité des Arts International Harp Competition, Paris

From this coming Monday, November 21st, 2011, until Sunday, November 27th, 2011, the Cité des Arts International Harp Competition will take place in Paris. All competition rounds are open to the public, admission is free, and we would be delighted to see you there! Everything will take place at the Cité Internationale des Arts de Paris, 18 rue de l'Hôtel de Ville - 75180 Paris.

If you are not able to attend, the results of all competition stages will be published on Harpblog, as well as on the Cité des Arts website, www.harpcompetition-citedesarts.com.

You will find the competition timetable below.

First Stage

Tuesday the 22nd and Wednesday the 23rd November from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

1 - Gabriel FAURE : Impromptu Op.86
2 - Johann Sebastian BACH : one or several pieces (free transcription).

Total duration of performance : between 16 and 20 minutes of music.

Second Stage

Thursday the 24th and Friday the 25th November from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

1 - One or two pieces (original or transcription) composed between 1600 and 1800.

2 - One or two pieces (original or transcription) of the romantic period ( Parish-
Alvars, Posse, Liszt, Zabel, Godefroid, Chopin, Glinka, Bochsa, Walter-Kuhn etc…).

3 - One or two pieces (original or transcription) of the 20th century ( Hindemith,
Tailleferre, Debussy, Roussel, Caplet, Britten, Tournier, Grandjany, Houdy, Andrès, Damase etc…).

4. A work especially written for the Cité des Arts competition: "La Harpe de Jade" by Thierry Pécou, published by Schott Music.

Total duration of performance : between 35 and 45 minutes of music.
 The order of performance is left to the participant’s own discretion.
 No piece from the first stages may be repeated for the final stage.

Final stage

Sunday the 27th November at 4 p.m.

1- André CAPLET : Conte Fantastique « Le Masque de la Mort Rouge ».
The string quartet will be provided by the contest.

2- Own choice piece on the theme of the voice, no longer than 10 minutes.

The results will be announced on the Sunday evening at 7 p.m.
The announcement of the results will be followed by a cocktail reception hosted by Camac Harps.