Interpreters

Margret Koell . Harp
Concertmaster Direction
Stuttgarter Kammerorchester

Programme

Ralph Vaughan-Williams
Fantasia on Greensleeves for Harp and Strings

Gustav Holst
St. Paul's Suite for Strings

Traditional
Coventry Carol / Sussex Carol / In the bleak midwinter / Bonny Christy

Granville Bantock
Scenes from the Scottish Highlands

Edward Elgar
Serenade for Strings

Henry Purcell
Chaconne in G minor

and other pieces

A programme like a winter journey through the soundscapes of the British Isles – rugged and gentle, folkloric and artistic, full of grace, depth and a dance-like zest for life. With “English Winter Tale”, the internationally acclaimed harpist Margret Koell and the versatile Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra present an evening that brings British composers from four centuries into an atmospheric dialogue. Margret Koell is regarded as one of the outstanding performers on historical harps. With her stylistic mastery and enchanting tone, she imbues the repertoire with a rarely experienced intensity – Fono Forum speaks of “stylistic assurance and virtuosity” that make her an “exceptional artist”.
The programme weaves together two large-scale works – Gustav Holst’s lively ‘St Paul’s Suite’ and Granville Bantock’s picturesque ‘Scenes from the Scottish Highlands’ – with traditional Christmas carols and dances, accompanied by the undulating string sounds of Purcell and Elgar. And time and again the voice of the harp resounds, serving as a unifying element that brings the rich colours of British music to life.