Nocturne

Kateřina Englichová, harp, and Silvie Hessová, violin. ArcoDiva, 2023.

Also of note is harpist Kateřina Englichová and violinist Silvie Hessová’s captivating collection Nocturne.  Achieving the exact beguiling serenity needed for a collection of this kind, the album is a mix of arrangements and original works for the duo including ones by Ravel, Saint-Saëns, and Massenet. The two come together as one in an enchanting lullaby by Gideon Klein played with a gentle sway and whispery lushness, as well as Anton Rubinstein’s Romance, with nary a harsh note even when things get intense as in their rapturous performance of Ibert’s Entr’acte. Three from Schindler’s List provide gravitas while a potpourri of tunes from Fiddler on the Roof  reminds of just how grandly virtuosic this Broadway musical really is. 

The Folly of Melancholy

Aisling Ennis, harp. Self-released, 2022.

For sheer loveliness the prize goes to Irish harpist Aisling Ennis. The Folly of Melancholyis the artistic gift she received struggling through a challenging personal period in her life, one that caused her to search inward and find her stunning creative voice. Recorded amidst the stone walls of Calvary Church, the album is a series of meditative improvisations. They’re filled with serenity and questioning all at once, particularly the title track which bravely leaves the confines of “feel good” in bursts of tension. That’s not to say this is a difficult listen. Quite the contrary, as Ennis touches our souls when inviting us to the Irish landscape with gentle song-like wonders as Spring Lambs and the brave sojourn of Into the Woods. At the end of meditation, we’re released gently with Exhale and we can breathe easier. •