Product Review

The acclaimed Welsh harpist, Catrin Finch, makes her Detusche Grammophon solo recording debut with her own breathtaking arrangement of Bach's masterpiece for keyboard, the Goldberg Variations--arguably the most challenging project of her career. Catrin's meteoric rise to fame includes being named the Royal Harpist to H.R.H. The Prince of Wales from 2000 through 2004. This honored position was last held in 1873, making the appointment a truly momentous occasion for the young harpist (she was still at the Royal Academy of Music at the time). Catrin spent over a year working out the intricate details of Bach's masterpiece and now presents her own arrangement on disc for the first time. Indeed, this is the first recording of the Goldberg Variations as arranged for harp. "With one touch of the strings--the opening notes of the Bach--Ms. Finch pulverized the stereotype of harpists as pretty, angelic strummers, blowing it away with a big, strong sound."--The New York Times on a performance of Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D minor