The harpist Emmanuel Ceysson is unanimously recognised for his powerful virtuoso playing. He was appointed principal harp with the Opera national de Paris at the age of 22, where he remained for fifteen years before going to the orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera of New York for five years; he has been principal harpist of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra under Gustavo Dudamel since 2020. Here he pays tribute to Marcel Tournier (1879-1951), one of the greatest harpist composers in the history of the instrument. The majority of Tournier's works are for solo harp or voice and harp, but he later added other instruments to certain pieces and so transformed them into chamber works. The works recorded here date from his mature years and show the influence of Debussy, Satie, and Ravel. Emmanuel Ceysson, the Quatuor Voce and Veronique Gens draw our attention to this important composer and to several previously unpublished versions of some of his works, the manuscripts of which have only recently come to light.
1 Images Suite No. 1, Op. 29-I. Clair de Lune Sur L'étang Du Parc
2 Images Suite No. 1, Op. 29-II. Au Seuil Du Temple
3 Images Suite No. 1, Op. 29-III. Lolita la Danseuse
4 Lettre Du Jardinier
5 Images Suite No. 3, Op. 35-VII. Les Ânesses Grises Sur la Route D'el-Azib
6 Images Suite No. 3, Op. 35-VIII. Danseuse À la Fontaine D'aïn-Draham
7 Images Suite No. 3, Op. 35-IX. Soir de Fête À Sedjenane
8 Insomnie
9 Sonatine, Op. 30-I. Allègrement
10 Sonatine, Op. 30-II. Calme Et Expressif
11 Sonatine, Op. 30-III. Fiévreusement (En Souvenir de Mon Ami Fernand Halphen)
12 Rêverie de Bouddha
13 Images Suite No. 2, Op. 31-IV. Les Enfants À la Crèche de Noël
14 Images Suite No. 2, Op. 31-V. L'étrange Cavalier
15 Images Suite No. 2, Op. 31-VI. La Marchande de Frivolités
16 Elle Est Venue, Elle a Souri
17 Images Suite No. 4, Op. 39-X. La Volière Magique
18 Images Suite No. 4, Op. 39-XI. Cloches Sous la Neige
19 Images Suite No. 4, Op. 39-XII. La Danse Du Moujik
The harpist Emmanuel Ceysson is unanimously recognised for his powerful virtuoso playing. He was appointed principal harp with the Opera national de Paris at the age of 22, where he remained for fifteen years before going to the orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera of New York for five years; he has been principal harpist of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra under Gustavo Dudamel since 2020. Here he pays tribute to Marcel Tournier (1879-1951), one of the greatest harpist composers in the history of the instrument. The majority of Tournier's works are for solo harp or voice and harp, but he later added other instruments to certain pieces and so transformed them into chamber works. The works recorded here date from his mature years and show the influence of Debussy, Satie, and Ravel. Emmanuel Ceysson, the Quatuor Voce and Veronique Gens draw our attention to this important composer and to several previously unpublished versions of some of his works, the manuscripts of which have only recently come to light.