The idea of Schubert’s piano Impromptus performed on the harp made me think about Samuel Johnson’s famous quote that refers to a dog walking on its hind legs: “It is not done well, but you are surprised to find it done at all.” You can play the notes well enough, yet the nature of the instrument and this particular recording’s swimmingly resonant acoustic reduces Schubert’s wide dynamic range to sleepy new-age pabulum.
And say goodbye to the dramatic drive throughout the D. 899 C minor and first D. 935 F minor piece, and forget the D. 935 finale’s rhythmic swagger. The sublime G-flat D. 899 turns into flavorless jello, with murky distinction between melody and accompaniment. At least harpist Margit-Anna Süss negotiates the pearly runs and arpeggios in the E-flat D. 899, A-flat D. 899, and B-flat D. 935 pieces with a light and supple touch from which certain pianists could benefit.
Out of the eight works, the A-flat D. 935 Impromptu’s relatively modest textures lose least in translation from piano to harp, and better allow for Süss to enhance the music’s expressive core by making idiomatic interpretive decisions like whether to pluck the strings with her nails or her finger pads. On the whole, this disc will have limited appeal for serious listeners, yet it’s perfect as background music for a small dinner party or a massage session.
