Re: Another opera/harp question

fred schlomka (fredsch@maroon.tc.umn.edu)
Fri, 30 Aug 96 23:42:39 -0500

In message <960828193708_511919901@emout07.mail.aol.com> writes:
>
>
> 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.
>

I played that Opera earlier this year and yes, the harp plays while someone
pretends to play the piano/harpsichord on stage. I have no idea why it was
scored that way but it was a fun opera to play in. They also pretend to play a
harp on stage. Often they harp part will be played by a keyboardist so it's a
nice twist for the situation to be reversed.

Sunita
> Lin

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