Emmanuel Ceysson is one of the world’s leading harpists. In 2020, he joined the Los Angeles Philharmonic as Principal Harp, having previously held this position at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York and at Opera de Paris. Since 2005, he has been a vibrant presence in leading international venues Wigmore Hall, Salle Gaveau, Carnegie Hall, Vienna Konzerthaus and Berlin Philharmonie where his appearances in recital, concerto repertoire and chamber music regularly win critical acclaim.

Ceysson’s unfailing commitment to his instrument has earned him the highest international accolades. He was awarded the Gold Medal and a special performance prize at the USA International Harp Competition in 2004, 1st Prize and six special prizes at the New York Young Concert Artist Auditions in 2006 and 1st Prize at the prestigious ARD Competition in Munich in 2009, becoming the first harpist to obtain awards at three major international competitions.

Recent concert highlights include the Glière Concerto for Harp with Oslo Philharmonic, Gävle Symfoniorkester, Tapiola Sinfonietta, Grazer Philharmonisches Orchester and Prague Radio Symphony, Reinecke’s Harp Concerto with Prague Philharmonia and Saint-Saëns’ Morceau de concert with the Recreation Orchestra (Graz). In addition, Ceysson has recently performed at Hong Kong Chamber Music Festival, presented a series of chamber music recitals with Quatuor Voce, made his debut with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center and given solo recitals at the Frick Collection, New York and Teatro del Lago, Chile. Most recently, he performed the world premiere of Joe Hisaishi’s Harp Concerto with LA Philharmonic and further performances with Orchestre National de Bordeaux in Paris and Bordeaux are scheduled.

Ceysson has been a Naïve recording artist since January 2012 when he released Opéra Fantaisie, a solo album based upon famous operatic arias. He has also recorded Mozart’s Concerto for Flute and Harp K299 for the Aparte Label with Orchestre de Chambre de Paris and recently performed this work with the LA Philharmonic under Gustavo Dudamel.

He is dedicated to helping shape the next generation of talented harpists and has given masterclasses worldwide. He has held visiting professor positions at London’s Royal Academy of Music and Helsinki’s Sibelius Academy and also has a harp studio at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.

Ceysson was recently appointed Associate Music Director of the USA International Harp Competition.

Sarah Shine is fast becoming one of Ireland’s most sought after sopranos and will sing the role of Adele in Irish National Opera’s upcoming production of Fledermaus. In early 2024, she performed the title role in Handel’s Atalanta at the Barokkfest Festival in Norway. This was followed by an appearance with French ensemble Miroirs Étendus for the revival and nationwide tour of Michael Gallen’s opera Elsewhere directed by Tom Creed and the workshopping of a new opera Lucia Joyce by New York based composer Patrick Zimmerli.

In 2023, Shine made her debut at the Bregenzer Festspiele as Sophie in Werther, prompting Olyrix to praise her “pearly vocalisations”. She debuted the same role with Irish National Opera that May in Dublin. Shine performed with Académie Opéra National de Paris in Looking for Bernstein, directed by Victoria Sitja, and returned to Ireland in December to perform with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra at the National Concert Hall.

In the 2021/2022 season, Shine created the role of Karen in Donnacha Dennehy and Enda Walsh’s The First Child at Dublin Theatre Festival (Landmark Productions/Irish National Opera) and was the soprano soloist in Mozart’s Mass in C Minor with the Orchestre de Pau Pays de Béarn under the direction of conductor Faycal Karoui. In 2020, she appeared at Wexford Festival Opera as Nannetta in Falstaff and performed in Irish National Opera’s 20 Shots of Opera in the mini-opera Glaoch, composed by Linda Buckley and directed by Hugh O’Conor.

Earlier career highlights include performing the lead role of Angelika in Der Gesang der Zauberinsel, a children’s opera by Marius Felix Lange at the Salzburg Festspiele, being an artist in residence at Opéra National de Paris (2017-2019) and being awarded the Siemens Opera Award of €10,000 in 2018.

Sarah graduated with a B.A. in Music Performance and a Recital Artist Diploma from the Royal Irish Academy of Music where she studied with Dr. Veronica Dunne.

André Caplet (1878 – 1925)
2 Divertissements

Louis Vierne (1870 – 1937)
Four Greek Poems (Soprano and Harp)

Marcel Tournier (1879 – 1951)
Sonatine, op. 30


Interval


Music Network Commission

Claude Debussy (1862 – 1918)
Suite Bergamasque 1902 (arr. Ceysson)

Claude Debussy (1862 – 1918)
Beau soir / Nuit d'étoiles / Les Lilas (Soprano and Harp)


Claude Debussy (1862 – 1918)
Après un Rêve / Notre Amour (Soprano and Harp)


Marcel Tournier (1879 – 1951)
Bells in the Snow from Images Suite No.4 Op.39