Royal Harp Strings (2016)

performed by Claire Jones (harp), Stuart Morley (conductor)
composed by Antonin Dvorák, Christopher John Marshall, Craig Armstrong, Edward MacDowell, English Traditional, Félix Godefroid, Giacomo Puccini, Irish Traditional, John Lunn, Léo Delibes, Nigel Hess, Traditional, Welsh Traditional, Zdenek Fibich

This release has been greeted with commercial success, where the inspiring story of harpist Claire Jones, formerly Royal Harpist to the Prince of Wales (did you know there was one?), has been widely publicized. After performing more than 180 royal engagements, including a private concert for Queen Elizabeth, she was stricken with chronic fatigue syndrome and could not leave her house for some time. Royal Harp Strings, which features top-notch backing from the London Mozart Players and the English Chamber Orchestra, is her ... Read More

This release has been greeted with commercial success, where the inspiring story of harpist Claire Jones, formerly Royal Harpist to the Prince of Wales (did you know there was one?), has been widely publicized. After performing more than 180 royal engagements, including a private concert for Queen Elizabeth, she was stricken with chronic fatigue syndrome and could not leave her house for some time. Royal Harp Strings, which features top-notch backing from the London Mozart Players and the English Chamber Orchestra, is her comeback album, and it will doubtless gain plenty of hearings on the strength of its back-story. But it's also listenable without knowing that, and Jones in her notes is careful to credit the reason why: the other star of this album is arranger Chris Marshall, who also during this ordeal became Jones' husband. The program consists of standard classical, pop, and folk crossover fare, including the now ubiquitous Theme from Downton Abbey at the end. But the variety with which Marshall... Read Less