Celia García-García - Celestial Blue (2022) [Hi-Res]

I first heard about the existence of the celesta during my piano studies in San Sebastián, Spain, in 2004, playing the original version of Debussy’s Les chansons de Bilitis: a dancer, two harps, two flutes, celesta, and a pseudotranslation of Ancient Greek poems. So enchanting!

Normally playing celesta is just an incidental experience for an aspiring pianist, too busy unraveling the difficulties of endless piano repertoire. As a matter of fact, many professional pianists have not even as much as played one key of a celesta. As I continued my studies, I moved to The Netherlands and dedicated my Masters to orchestral playing. Playing celesta is an important task of the orchestral pianist: in symphonic repertoire the celesta shines.

During my time at the conservatory, I came in contact with Schiedmayer Celesta in Stuttgart, Germany; the only manufacturer of celestas in the world. Elianne Schiedmayer kindly answered all my questions, and there were many as I did not have an instrument at my disposal except during the short periods when I was playing with an orchestra.
Tracklist
1. Debussy: Suite Bergamasque: III. Clair de lune (Arr. for celesta by Celia García-García) (5:41)
2. Satie: Gnossiennes: I. Lent (Arr. for celesta by Celia García-García) (4:05)
3. Glazunov: Raymonda ballet, Op. 57: Act III, Variation IV (Arr. for celesta by Celia García-García) (2:26)
4. Saint-Saëns: Le Carnaval des Animaux: VII. Aquarium (Arr. for celesta by Celia García-García) (2:53)
5. Debussy: Première Arabesque (Arr. for celesta by Celia García-García) (3:54)
6. Tsjaikovski: Nutcracker Suite, Op. 71a: Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy (Arr. for celesta by Celia García-García) (1:59)
7. Satie: Gnossiennes: III. Lent (Arr. for celesta by Celia García-García) (3:09)
8. Debussy: Préludes, Book I: IV. Des pas sur la neige (Arr. for celesta by Celia García-García) (4:08)
9. Granados: 12 danzas españolas: II. Oriental (Arr. for celesta by Celia García-García) (4:28)
10. Guridi: Tres piezas breves: II. Nostalgia (Arr. for celesta by Celia García-García) (2:45)
11. Debussy: Rêverie (Arr. for celesta by Celia García-García) (3:51)
12. Debussy: Préludes, Book I: VIII. La fille aux cheveux de lin (Arr. for celesta by Celia García-García) (2:25)
13. Brahms: Cradle Song, Op. 49 (Arr. for celesta by Celia García-García) (2:01)