MARIE ANTOINETTE & HARP

Festival Glasperlenspiel
Fri, July 10th at 9 pm, St. John’s church (Jaani Street 5, Tartu)
MARIE ANTOINETTE & HARP
Elisabeth Plank (harp, Austria)
Marie Antoinette, F. Petrini, A.-M. Krumpholtz, J. L. Dussek, J. B. Krumpholtz, S.-F. de Genlis, Ph. J. Hinner

Marie Antoinette is known as the queen of France, a victim of the French Revolution, or an influential fashionista. But Marie Antoinette was also an important patron of the arts, a passionate harpist herself – and she turned Paris into a center for the harp. Works for harp by virtuosos of the era invite you to immerse yourself in the world of the 18th-century French court to discover fashionable genres and the musical side of Marie Antoinette.

„an exceptional player, great command of her instrument, so much character & colour in her playing“ (BBC Radio Scotland)

Austrian harpist Elisabeth Plank has established herself as an internationally sought-after soloist and ambassador for her instrument. Plank’s ambition to sharpen and broaden the harp’s profile has added musical rediscoveries and new compositions dedicated to her to the harp’s repertoire, as well as many world premiere recordings. As a recitalist or as a soloist with orchestra, Elisabeth Plank has performed in renowned concert halls and festivals in Europe, Japan and Latin America, such as Musikverein Wien, Wiener Konzerthaus, Harpa Reykjavík, Konzerthaus Berlin, Grafenegg and NOSPR, as well as international festivals like MDR Musiksommer, moselmusikfestival, Bogotá International Music Festival and Festival de Música de Morelia Mexico. The harpist performs with orchestras such as ORF Radio-Symphonieorchester Wien, Barockensemble der Wiener Symphoniker, Wiener KammerOrchester, NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra, Iasi Philharmonic Orchestra and Thüringer Symphoniker.
Elisabeth Plank is a prizewinner of numerous international competitions and was honored with the “Young Celebrity Master” award of “HarpMasters”. From 2019 to 2021, Elisabeth Plank has been artist-in-residence of Wiener Konzerthaus as part of the “Great Talent” series. Elisabeth Plank has been chosen as musical ambassador for the New Austrian Sound of Music for 2023 and 2024 as the first harpist ever. Elisabeth Planks versatility also shows in her discography: L‘arpa notturna, 1825 – Echoes of Vienna on Historical Harp and musings. Plank studied at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna under the tuition of Adelheid Blovsky-Miller and Mirjam Schröder and in further studies she worked with Fabrice Pierre in Brescia.

Organizers:
Peeter Vähi – artistic director
Tiina Jokinen – executive director
Kadri Kiis – producer, accountant
Meeta Vardja – musicologist, editor of festival booklet
Mart Kivisild – design
Olavi Sööt – co-producer, video, logistics
Reno Hekkonens – marketing director, PR
Johannes Vähi – co-producer, webmaster, sound engineering, logistics
Rebeca Birk – social media

Special thanks: Tartu City Government, Urmas Klaas, Triin Käpp, Jana Raud, Ministry of Culture of Estonia, Cultural Endowment of Estonia, Canon and Overall, St John’s church, Kaupo Kiis, Kristel Leppik, volunteers

Next Glasperlenspiel: July 8th – 13th, 2027