Frances Kelly, welsh triple harp, arpa doppia,
wire-strung harp
Trained on the modern harp and with a music degree from Cambridge University, Frances Kelly was one of the first harpists to explore early harps, their repertoire and in particular, the use of the harp as a continuo instrument.
Well known both as a chamber musician and soloist, she is now a leading exponent pf early harps and much in demand as a continuo player. She has performed, broadcast and recorded with many distinguished ensembles including the Gabrieli Consort and Players, the Sixteen, the New London Consort, and the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment as well as working with English National Opera, Welsh National Opera and English Touring Opera.
She has numerous chamber music recordings to her name as well as a solo Harp Collection, Mozart’s Flute and Harp Concerto, Handel’s Harp Concerto and Britten’s A Ceremony of Carols. Her work has taken her throughout Europe and to the USA, Mexico, China and Japan. She also enjoys a busy teaching practice at home and at both junior and senior departments at Trinity College of Music.
Frances’ work in 2008 included a recording on the modern harp as soloist with the Choir of St. John’s College Cambridge, performances of the Mozart concerto with Rachel Brown and the Hanover Band, South American baroque music with Ex Cathedra, Monteverdi’s Poppea at Glyndebourne Opera and at the Proms, Handel’s Samson at the Buxton Festival, Monteverdi’s Vespers in Venice, and various programmes with the Sixteen ranging from medieval music to Spanish baroque music to Handel’s Messiah. |
