In works for stage and screen, one musical device stands out among all others to express fantastical transformation, the harp glissando. You know the sound, alternately plunging and soaring swoops of angelic resonance that propel you from terra firma to ethereal heights, from the practical constraints of daily life to the infinite possibility of dreams. Not only do you know the sound, but given a concert grand harp, you could probably even deliver a passable example, drawing a finger or thumb (but never a pinky!) up and down the 47 strings ad libitum. Yes, the harp offers a ready vehicle to express our sense of wonder and enter an imaginary world where anything is possible...

…anything except being able to actually play the harp. For that, we need an expert and true artist. Harpist Amy Ley is here to save the day. Yes, she plays a mean glissando and can send us straight to Cloud Cuckoo Land at the drop of a hat. But more importantly, she is a virtuoso performer and an artist of the most refined sensibilities. And the harp repertoire is often not as familiar to audiences as that of violin, piano, etc. Therefore, it is a guarantee that you will be transported. Works by Couperin, Humperdinck, Grandjany and more. All selections will be announced from the stage.

Artists: Timothy Christie, moderator; Amy Ley, harp