Osian Ellis
Osian Ellis was the long-time principal harpist for the London Symphony Orchestra. The Welshman once described his own personal outlook as "philosophical" and indicated that a symphony harpist had to be that way since a good deal of their time is spent sitting in the wings. When a solo feature is actually offered, it is most often in one of the same half-dozen repertoire pieces, such as the Mephisto Waltz No. 1 by Franz Liszt. Yes, this piece was a specialty of Ellis', but this performer's varied interests and deep respect for his instrument's legacy led to a career that consisted of much more than just waiting for a chance to play. He was associated closely with Benjamin Britten but established a repertoire that stretched back to medieval British and Spanish music as well as the traditional harp music of Wales.
Ellis was born on February 8, 1928, in Ffynnongroew, Flintshire, Wales. His mother was an amateur harpist and encouraged him to learn the instrument. He studied with Alwena Roberts before attending the Royal Academy of Music, where his teacher was Gwendolen Mason. In 1959, Ellis succeeded Mason as the harp professor at the Royal Academy. His stay with the London Symphony began in 1961, shortly after he first began his involvement with Britten. He was a creative player during his London Symphony days and was even known to toss in his own solos while performing with the orchestra. When the Melos Ensemble was formed in London in the late '60s, Ellis was a natural choice to become the ensemble's harpist. The ensemble was dedicated to performing the often neglected repertoire for extended chamber ensemble, in the case of the harp, leading to the impressionist masterpieces of Ravel and Debussy.
Britten's Suite for Harp was composed in 1969 after Ellis asked the composer for a solo piece, and it was premiered during that year's Aldeburgh Festival. Ellis toured extensively in America and Europe with tenor Sir Peter Pears from 1973 to 1980, prompting eager composers to submit songs to the duo. That included Britten, who came up with Canticle V and A Birthday Hansel during this period, the latter piece a special request from the Queen. After this, Ellis began to be referred to as "the Queen's harpist." Ellis continued this tradition, performing with his son, Tomos, who was also a tenor, in the U.K. and beyond. Ellis and Britten also collaborated closely on the 1976 Eight Folk Song Arrangements, with Ellis creating virtuoso harp accompaniment as well as English lyrics for Welsh text.
Ellis remained at the Royal Academy until 1989, and he retired from the London Symphony in 1994. He was a constant champion of his instrument, conducting multi-harp workshops and leading the Osian Ellis Harp Ensemble. In 1999, he conducted a 12-harp ensemble at a special concert for the Florida International Festival, where he was photographed practicing harp on the beach. He also had compositions written for him by Gian Carlo Menotti, William Schuman, and Alun Hoddinott, among others. He frequently performed excerpts from the harp compositions by composer Jørgen Jersild, many of which were dedicated to Ellis. Following a superb academic career, he was made an Honorary Fellow by the University of Wales in 2000. His short book, The History of the Harp in Wales, was published by the University of Wales Press. He was the subject of several full-length documentaries produced by British and Welsh television, the latter filmed when he was beginning his career. Ellis retired from performing to care for his wife Rene, a violist to whom he was married for over 60 years. They had two sons together, Richard and Tomos; Tomos died in 2009 and Rene in 2012. The Wales International Harp Festival in Caernarfon held a concert to honor Osian's 90th birthday in 2018. The celebration inspired Ellis to return to playing the harp. He also returned to composing, which resulted in a Lachrymae for solo harp and Cylch o Alawon Gwerin Cymru ("A Circle of Welsh Folk Songs"), written for bass-baritone Bryn Terfel and harpist Hannah Stone. Ellis died on January 5, 2021, at the age of 92.
© Eugene Chadbourne & Keith Finke /TiVo
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Discographie
16 album(s) • Trié par Meilleures ventes
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Debussy / Franck / Ravel: Sonata for Flute, Viola & Harp / Sonata for Violin & Piano etc.
Kyung Wha Chung, Radu Lupu, Osian Ellis, The Melos Ensemble Of London
Classique - Paru chez Decca Music Group Ltd. le 1 janv. 1988
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
BRITTEN: Sinfonia da Requiem / Gloriana Suite / Sea Interludes
Osian Ellis, Taylor Alexander, Keiron Moore, London Symphony Orchestra, Steuart Bedford
Classique - Paru chez Naxos le 1 mai 2005
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Handel: Lute and Harp Concerto in B-flat major, Etc.
Musique concertante - Paru chez Past Classics le 7 juil. 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mozart: Clarinet Concerto; Concerto for Flute and Harp
Emma Johnson, William Bennett, Osian Ellis, English Chamber Orchestra, Raymond Leppard
Classique - Paru chez Decca (UMO) le 1 janv. 1985
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Martin: Orchestral, Choral & Vocal Works.
Sir Neville Marriner, Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, Osian Ellis, Simon Preston, Sir Philip Ledger
Classique - Paru chez Warner Classics le 20 févr. 2009
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
19th and 20th-Century Harp Music
Classique - Paru chez Decca Music Group Ltd. le 20 avr. 1969
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Handel: Concerto grosso, HWV 318 & Concertos pour harpe, HWV 293 - 294 (Mono Version)
Philomusica of London, Granville Jones, Osian Ellis
Divers - Paru chez BNF Collection le 1 janv. 1960
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Handel: Jephtha, Rodrigo, Concertos for Lute and Harp
Osian Ellis, Desmond Dupré, Thurston Dart, Philomusica of London, Anthony Lewis, Granville Jones
Classique - Paru chez Universal Music Australia Pty. Ltd. le 1 janv. 1959
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Live in Concert - Osian Ellis and the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center
Osian Ellis, The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center
Musique de chambre - Paru chez Musical Heritage Society le 14 mai 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Songs with Harp (Dowland, Campion, Jones...)
Classique - Paru chez Universal Music Australia Pty. Ltd. le 27 févr. 2015
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Handel: Apollo e Dafne, HWV 122
Classique - Paru chez Cameo Classics le 2 oct. 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
French Music for Harp & Ensemble
Classique - Paru chez Musical Concepts le 7 mai 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
JERSILD: Vocal and Instrumental Works (Jorgen Jersild - Steen Steensen Blicher - Nis Petersen)
Classique - Paru chez Dacapo le 28 juin 1993
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
17th & 18th-Century Harp Music
Classique - Paru chez Decca Music Group Ltd. le 1 janv. 1969
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Choral Music by George Dyson
Royal College of Music Chamber Choir, Stephen Roberts, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Osian Ellis, Nettle and Markham Piano Duo, Sir David Willcocks
Musique chorale (pour chœur) - Paru chez SOMM Recordings le 1 févr. 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Holst: Savitri, Op. 25 & Choral Hymns [From the Rig Verda [3rd Group], Op. 26, No. 3
(Dame) Janet Baker, Robert Tear, Osian Ellis
Classique - Paru chez Sinetone PCA le 30 nov. 2015
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo