Album Notes

When I started piecing together the repertoire for this recording I wanted it to be more than a solo harp recording of Christmas standards. I wanted to select pieces that had meaning for me. I wanted to share my favorite music of the Christmas season with the listener. The carols range from those that I learned as a girl in southern France to those I encountered as an adult in Ottawa, Canada, to one that I found in the past year. The common thread is that each carol brings in focus for me an aspect of the Christmas season.

In addition to Christmas carols, two major choral and harp pieces that are the seasonal standards for classical harp performers have been included. I perform Ceremony of Carols by Benjamin Britten with choral groups each year. The piece is in the center of this recording as it is in the center of the harp repertoire for the Christmas season. The second choral piece is Tomorrow Shall be my Dancing Day by John Rutter.

The title, A Christmas Story, is taken from the solo harp piece written by Alphonse Hasselmans. The composition is rarely performed or recorded, but has such beauty and spirituality. I hope that I have introduced a new Christmas composition to you that will bring meaning to your holiday season.

I would like to wish everyone a happy Christmas and in the words of John Rutter, “the music of Christmas is always perfect, and so I love to remember and celebrate Christmas in music and song.”

Merry Christmas!
- Caroline Léonardelli

Caroline Léondardelli
Caroline Léonardelli, classical harpist, has an accomplished career at as a soloist, chamber musician, orchestral musician, and teacher. Born in France, Caroline graduated with first prize in harp from the Paris Conservatoire under the guidance of Jacqueline Borot at the age of 18. Caroline went on to advanced study with Judy Loman at McGill University. During her youth Caroline studied in France with Lily Laskine, one of the most celebrated harpists of the 20th century.

Caroline is Principal Harpist with the Ottawa Symphony Orchestra, and the Gatineau Symphony. Caroline recrodigs include Impressionisme - Para Arpa Harp Duo, Panache with soprano Julie Nesrallah, and Eldoardo.