Press
Reviews from Performances
Faure’s Pelleas et Melisande - “sensual…noteworthy”
“The [Faure] Suite was given an elegantly sensual reading by Payare and the musicians, with noteworthy contributions from…harpist Julie Smith Phillips.”
— Christian Hertzog, San Diego Union-Tribune, May 29, 2023
Scintillation - “spectacular results”
"Carlos Salzedos’ “Scintillation” for solo harp evoked Shaw’s emotional intensity, but with a completely different vocabulary replete with grand melodic flourishes. One of the last century’s most acclaimed harp virtuosos, Salzedo created in 1936 this compact tour de force to exploit his instrument’s wide range of sonic capabilities. I was not at all surprised that Harpist Julie Smith Phillips had memorized this marvelously complex, quickly changing piece. Freed from following the printed score, she was able to completely embrace the demands of her instrument—with spectacular results.”
— San Diego Story. May 8, 2019
Mozart - “precise & nuanced”
There is little danger comparing Mozart’s Concerto in C Major for Flute and Harp, K. 299, with his late piano concertos or symphonies. Written for wealthy aristocratic musical amateurs, this unusual concerto in flashy rococo style—reflecting the taste of his French commissioners—remains stubbornly on the surface throughout its predictable three movements. Each soloist lavished technical finesse at every turn and flourish, although Mozart gave the flute most of the heavy lifting.
Phillips’ precise attacks, nuanced dynamics, and fluent ornamentation defined her performance, and Lombardo’s supple, handsomely detailed articulation complemented such virtues well, although her light, rather monochromatic timbre accentuated the facile character of the concerto. Debus and the orchestra provided carefully calibrated accompaniment to the soloists… Mozart’s own cadenzas to this concerto have not survived, and the cadenzas chosen by the performers could not have been more ingratiating, even if they did not display complete congruence to Mozart’s musical style.
— San Diego Story. Dec. 10, 2017
Britten’s Folk Songs - “flare & sensitivity”
“Harpist Julie Smith Phillips interpreted the composer’s fussy but telling accompaniments with flare and sensitivity. Instrumentalist and singer could not have been more excellently matched.
Although this song cycle was one of Britten’s last compositions, it brought to mind one of his earliest, the popular “Ceremony of Carols,” with its astounding solo harp instrumental score.”
— San Diego Story. March 5, 2015
Tree Suite - “consummate grace & poise”
“Art of Élan provided part of the commission for Hannah Lash’s “Tree Suite” for harp, a four-movement suite of neo-classical design that gave the harp an abundance of suave themes wrapped in sweeping, iconic harp arpeggiation. In San Diego Symphony Principal Harp Julie Smith Phillips’ skilled hands, Lash’s new work floated through the hall with consummate grace and poise. But I cannot help wonder—is this return to unblemished tonality the Brexit of the current compositional new wave? Time will tell.”
— San Diego Story. Jan 11, 2017
Petal by Petal, Leaf by Leaf - “luminous”
In this public premiere of “Petal by Petal, Leaf by Leaf,” flutist Rose Lombardo, violist Che-Yen Chen, and harpist Julie Smith Phillips imbued every phrase with precise execution and rich emotional intention. It would be difficult to imagine a more felicitous presentation of this luminous new work.
— San Diego Story. Jan. 31, 2018