Granata, Chiara / Schultsz, Jan
Beethoven The Other Strings
In a letter written in 1796 to his friend and piano maker J. A. Streicher, Beethoven discusses the harp and the piano, criticising a compositional style that fails to distinguish between the two instruments. "As far as playing technique is concerned, there is no doubt that the piano is still the least studied and developed of all instruments, one oftens has the impression to listen to the harp." In closing his letter, Beethoven expressed a hope that would also become a prophecy: "I hope that a time will come when the harp and the piano are treated as two entirely different instruments." This time would indeed come, thanks to Beethovens piano playing. The programme presented here brings together a series of original transcriptions published in England by harpists active on the London scene. For all of these harpists, performing this repertoire meant challenging the technical capabilities of the harp and establishing a dialogue between the harp and Beethovens primary instrument, the piano.