NANCIANNE PARRELLA

• Les Corps Glorieux

"... this unassumingly designed disc has a gorgeous sound and a very pleasing selection of unfamiliar – mostly French – literature. Fiacco plays with a very rich, old-fashioned cello tone that makes extended use of portamenti and blends very nicely with Parrella's organ. Drake's harp playing is tasteful, rather darkly colored and not plucky, and, like Fiacco, relates very well to the organ. The three of them playing together, as they do on Henri Büsser's Le sommeil de l'enfant Jesus, results in a fabulous tonal blend that almost automatically places one in a state of devotional relaxation. Yet the musical program is serious and not New Agey – here is short-lived contemporary composer Chris DeBlasio's setting of "God is Our Righteousness" and a gorgeous "Aria" from a Suite for Organ and Harp composed by Louis White so intriguing that it strongly makes one wonder what the rest of the suite sounds like. Parrella, Drake and Fiacco do not play the whole disc through together, but everyone gets a solo showcase, which is an intelligent choice in such an unusual program. MSR Classics' Les Corps Glorieux ... will prove strongly accessible to both those of a religious inclination and non-believers as well – all one needs is a desire for a little peace in one's life to enjoy this."

All Music Guide - May 2007

"This program exudes a spirit of lovely serenity. The three performers are seasoned artists and recognized virtuosos on their respective instruments. Together they produce a unified ensemble. Marcel Grandjany’s familiar Aria in Classic Style for harp and organ is given an exquisite performance. Lesser-known works by Henri Büsser, Saint-Saëns, Chris DeBlasio, Louie White, and Massenet feature lovely renditions by harp or cello accompanied by organ. In Handel’s Concerto in B-flat, Op. 4, No. 6, the organ and cello provide discreet underpinnings to the harp, producing a remarkably perfect blend... Messiaen’s “Joie et clarté” from Les Corps glorieux is performed at a more relaxed tempo than is sometimes heard, delivering both joy and clarity of musical texture. Every sound of each instrument is captured with optimal clarity and balance on this excellent recording. It is salve to the soul."

The American Organist, March 2007

"Parrella plays [Joie et Clarte] expertly...Drake negotiates [Grandjany's Aria in Classic Style] with style and clarity..."

The Journal of the Association of Anglican Musicians, September 2006

Nancianne Parrella was Associate Organist of the Church of St. Ignatius Loyola, where she featured frequently on the highly acclaimed Sacred Music in a Sacred Space concert series, playing and recording the Duruflé Requiem and giving the New York premiere of Stephan Paulus' Concerto for Organ, Orchestra and Choir. The American Organist hailed her AMDG CD Jubilations as "sweeping, dramatic, and awe inspiring." Parrella was also accompanist and assistant director of the famed Westminster Choir, directed by conductor laureate Joseph Flummerfelt, and accompanist of the Westminster Symphonic Choir. She  performed throughout the United States, Europe and Asia, and collaborated with Kurt Masur, Lorin Maazel, Wolfgang Sawalisch, Zdenek Macal, Neeme Jarvi, and the Robert Shaw.

Harpist Victoria Drake has been concerto soloist with more than a dozen orchestras and appears often as solo recitalist and chamber musician. Ms. Drake has three solo recordings on the Well-Tempered Productions label: Harping on Bach, Scarlatti’s Harp, and Spanish Gold. She performs with many orchestras in the New York area including American Symphony Orchestra, New York City Ballet, Orchestra of St. Luke’s, Orpheus and Philharmonia Virtuosi. She has participated at the Aspen, Bard, Cabrillo, Fontainebleau, and Vermont Mozart Festivals, Summer Music in Connecticut, and L’Association des Rencontres Culturelles d’Orbec in France. She performed and recorded Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra under Sir Georg Solti and the Mozart Concerto for Flute and Harp on period instruments with the Old Fairfield Academy. She has also recorded for the ESS.A.Y, CRI and Spectrum labels. visit: www.VictoriaDrake.com.

Arthur Fiacco has performed at the Lincoln Center, Ravinia and Caramoor Festivals as well as with the Mark Morris Dance Company, Meredith Monk, and Patti Lupone. He premiered the Paul Moravec’s Pulitzer-nominated Montserrat on the Sacred Music in a Sacred Space concert series, and is featured on its recording of the Duruflé Requiem. Noted as a "distinguished chamber musician" of "impressive virtuosity" (Consort magazine) his recordings of the symphonies of Mozart in Hummel’s quartet reductions have garnered praise as "definitive" and "first-rate" (The New York Times). As a member of The Hanoverian Ensemble, Gramophone notes that his "vibrant period-instrument skills animate" and Fanfare hails his "benchmark interpretations." Arthur has recorded on the MSR Classics, Columbia, RCA, Sony, EMI, AMDG, ECM and Newport Classics labels. HENRI BÜSSER (1872-1973)
Le Sommeil de l'Enfant Jésus, Op.3

MARCEL GRANDJANY (1891-1975)
Aria in Classic Style for Harp and Organ, Op.19

CAMILLO SCHUMANN (1872-1946)
Präludium in B minor, Op.123, No.2
Recitativ und Adagio, Op.9

LOUIE WHITE (1921-1979)
Suite for Organ and Harp: II. Aria

CAMILLE SAINT-SAËNS (1835-1921)
Prière, Op.158

ESTER MÄGI (b.1922)
Dialog: Prelude with Choral

CHRIS DEBLASIO (1959-1993)
God is Our Righteousness

JULES MASSENET (1842-1912)
La Vierge

GEORGE FRIDERIC HANDEL (1685-1759)
Concerto in B-flat, Op.4, No.6

OLIVIER MESSIAEN (1908-1992)
Les Corps Glorieux: No.6 - Joie et clarté



MSR Classics