Re: Another opera/harp question

Richard Desmond & Mike Parker (rich-d@dircon.co.uk)
Thu, 29 Aug 1996 09:03:54 +0100

>Have you ever played harp in the opera Hoffman? I ask because I was just
>listening to a studio recording of it today. In the 3rd act the heroine is
>suppose to be singing and accompanying herself on a harpsichord. Further
>into the scene, she sings while her lover accompanys her on the same
>instrument. The problem is one doesn't hear any harpsichord.....just a harp.
> I was wondering if it's actually scored that way, or if it was simply a
>substitution. A harpsichord is not a difficult instrument for a professional
>orchestra to come up with. The libretto says harpsichord, but it's a harp
>coming out of the pit.
>
>Lin

Hi there,

It is actually scored for harp...just those cheapscates in the MD dept!

I did Hoffman last year and (in addition to doing the mechanical doll bit
onstage (costume, the lot!) was required to be Antonia's harpsichord. I
played the whole thing PDLT so as to make a more harpsichord like sound but
I don't think anyone noticed.

Be happy,

Mike.