Terra e Aria

Music for flute and harp

Unlike other instruments, the flute and the harp combined emanate a sense of harmony and peace. Particularly in a period of French music, which began at roughly the same time as the Impressionist art movement, peace achieves a scenic touch recalling its roots in an ancient shepherd idyll. Allowing the audience to trace these rich facets is one of the special attractions of this CD. The acoustics of the monastery church of Springiersbach (near Bengel, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany), where this CD was recorded, excellently support this purpose.

A real gem of a CD, and one that clearly stands out from the usual…the interpretations are at once refined and euphonious, demonstrating sound knowledge and musical understanding… an ideal choice!
from VIMA, Athens, 2009

In this masterly recording by Terra e Aria, all of the performances radiate youthful energy and have a natural vitality, while showing deep respect for the score.
From JAZZ & TZAZ, Athens, 2009

Natalia Gerakis, flute – Ulrike Neubacher, harp

ALBUM DETAIL

CD-Content

CLAUDE DEBUSSY (1862-1918): Syrinx for flute solo, La fi lle aux cheveux de Lin
GABRIEL FAURÉ (1845-1924): Morceau de concours
GEORG FRIEDRICH HÄNDEL (1685-1759): Allegro from the Harp concerto B flat major
CHRISTOPH W. GLUCK (1714-1787): Reigen seliger Geister. Ballett from Orpheus & Eurydike
WOLFGANG A. MOZART (1756-1791): variations »Ah! vous dirais-je Maman«
GEORG PHILIPP TELEMANN (1681-1767): Fantasie No 1 for flute solo
JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH (1685-1750): Sonata C major, BWV 1033
Andante – Allegro – Adagio -Menuett I & II
GABRIEL FAURÉ (1845-1924): Sicilienne from Pelléas & Mélisande
ALFREDO ROLANDO ORTIZ (geb.1946): Ecuador for harp solo
MAURICE RAVEL (1875-1937): Pièce en forme de Habanera
JACQUES IBERT (1890-1962): Entr’Act e

— Detailed informations, texts, photos, etc. inside CD (booklet) —

 

Total recording time: 51:52 | Format: Audio-CD | RD: 09 Dec 2008
Recording: February 2008, Karmelitenkloster Springiersbach
English booklet enclosed (16 pages) / German booklet enclosed
Ord. No. SRL4-08033 | (p) & (c) SPEKTRAL 2008 | Series SPEKTRAL CLASSICS

ARTISTS

Natalia Gerakis, flute

Natalia Gerakis is considered one of the most accomplished Greek flutists. Both Stuttgart- and Athens-based, she has performed as a soloist, chamber musician and orchestral player at major halls and festivals throughout Germany and Greece, as well as in numerous European countries, in Asia, Africa and South America. She has been principal flute of the Thessaloniki State Symphony Orchestra and performed among others with the Athens State Orchestra, Athens Camerata, Wuerttemberg Chamber Orchestra Heilbronn, Stuttgart State Opera House (Chamber Theater). As a soloist she has  performed with the Bosch Symphony Orchestra Stuttgart, Stuttgart University Academic Orchestra, Thessaloniki State Symphony Orchestra, Athens Philharmonia Orchestra, Athens Academica, Universidad Mayor Orchestra Santiago/Chile. She has recorded for the Bayerischer Rundfunk, the Greek Radio & TV, the record labels Spektral Records/GER and Utopia/GR, the Hellenic Foundation for Culture. In addition to her musical activities as a performer, Natalia Gerakis has shown a remarkable educational activity. Commitment to her art and success in teaching makes her a highly regarded and sought-after flutist among international courses (Adams European Flute Center Masterclasses/Holland, International Forum for Flute and Piano/Luxembourg, Springiersbach Summer Courses/GER, Alliance Française Courses Lusaka/Zambia, Universidad Mayor Masterclasses Santiago/Chile, Music Library of Greece Masterclasses, International Music Academy of Anargyrios and Korgialenios School of Spetses/GR). Natalia Gerakis is Flute Professor at the Athens Conservatoire and tutor for Flute Methodology at the State University of Music and Performing Arts Stuttgart. Furthermore, she taught the flute (master’s degree program) in the Music Department of the Athens National University. She has studied the flute with Geneviève Amar and Vicens Prats at the Nadia & Lili Boulanger Conservatoire in Paris. She has obtained her flute master’s degree at the State University of Music and Performing Arts Stuttgart in Germany under Professor Jean-Claude Gérard, on a scholarship of the Greek State. Currently she is PhD Candidate in the Music Department of the Athens National University.

www.nataliagerakis.com

 

www.nataliagerakis.com

Ulrike Neubacher, harp

Austrian harpist Ulrike Neubacher, daughter of the professor and harp maker Johann Neubacher, began her musical studies at a very young age on a harp specially made for her by her father. She studied with Professor Emminger in Salzburg and in the class of Professor Reichling at the State Music Academy of Stuttgart, from where she graduated with her soloist’s diploma. In parallel to her studies she was a regular fi rst prizewinner in many national and international competitions. From the age of 15 Ulrike Neubacher has gathered a lot of experience as a soloist. Her large number of concerts, recordings and television appearances in both Europe and Asia are testament to her exceptional musicality and continual artistic activity.
Ulrike Neubacher has a particular passion for chamber music. Aside from the standard duet pairings she also appears in duets with voice, trombone and double bass.
She is regularly playing with major orchestras and ensembles such as SWR Radiosinfonieorchester Stuttgart, dem Radiosinfonieorchester Saarbrücken, the Südwestrundfunkorchester Freiburg, the Baden-Badener Symphoniker, the Stuttgarter Philharmoniker, the Orchestre Symphonique de Lyon, the Philharmonie Merck, the Symphonieorchester Vorarlberg ot the Ensemble Plus. She lives and performs mainly in Southern Germany and Austria. In addition her artistic reputation makes her a pedagogue who is in demand throughout Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

www.neubacher-harfe.de