Boieldieu Harp Concerto In C Major & Rodrigo Concert-Serenade For Harp And Orchestra

The Boieldieu Harp Concerto in C Major & Rodrigo Concert-Serenade features two essential masterworks of the harp repertoire, performed by the legendary Nicanor Zabaleta. Originally recorded in 1960 and released by Deutsche Grammophon, this collection captures Zabaleta’s virtuosic touch alongside the Radio-Symphonie-Orchester Berlin under the direction of Ernst Märzendorfer. The recording is a hallmark of the French and Spanish traditions, showcasing the harp’s versatility as a lead orchestral instrument during the peak of the analog stereo era.
The program pairs François-Adrien Boieldieu’s sparkling, early 19th-century concerto with Joaquín Rodrigo’s vibrant, 20th-century serenade. Boieldieu’s work is celebrated for its Allegro Brillante and elegant, classical phrasing, while Rodrigo, famed for the Concierto de Aranjuez, infuses his Concert-Serenade with rhythmic vitality and the melodic warmth of Spanish folk influence. Together, these pieces offer a sweeping survey of the harp’s evolution, from the refined textures of the Paris Conservatoire style to the colorful, evocative atmospheres of modern Iberia.

Artist(s): Conductor – Ernst Märzendorfer
Orchestra – Radio-Symphonie-Orchester Berlin
Harp – Nicanor Zabaleta
Recording Info: Released in 1960
Sourced from a DGG original pressing
Components used for Transfer:
This transfer leverages precision analog playback and mastering-grade digital conversion. The signal path begins with a VPI HW-40 Anniversary turntable paired with an Ortofon MC Anna cartridge, fed through a Merrill Audio Jens Phono pre-amp for accurate RIAA equalization. The analog signal converts via a Merging Anubis converter, powered by a Teddy Pardo Linear Power Supply, synchronized to an Antelope Audio 10MX atomic clock for temporal accuracy. All components receive isolated power conditioning through a Shunyata Research Everest 8000 with Sigma-X cords, while grounding infrastructure utilizes Shunyata ALTAIRA hubs to minimize noise floor and preserve sonic detail throughout the transfer chain.

This Title is in the Vinyl Record Restoration Series. You can find information about the series in this Blog Post HERE

Please Note: This release was edited in DXD PCM from a DSD256 Master
then the DXD edited master was used to generate the final DSD files using
Merging Technologies Album Publishing.
DXD (352.8KHz 24/32 bit PCM) is one of the best and least destructive formats for post-processing DSD originated digital recordings

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