Harp Rise II: Taiwan Harp Festival 2019

Latest

May 20, 2019

 

Following the success of the first Taiwan International Harp Festival in 2015, the second edition will continue to explore cross-genre, multidisciplinary performance. Directed by Shannon Cheih, Harp Rise II will take place between June 25 – 30, 2019, at the Eslite Performance Hall in Tapei. It’s your chance to experience the harp + … dance, poetry, drama, literature, multimedia images, electronic music, lighting design, and more. There will be concerts, masterclasses, world premieres, lectures, and even flash mob performances – and it will also be a great opportunity for harpists across the Asia-Pacific region to come together and exchange ideas. 

The festival will also feature the Camac Prize Taiwan, a competition with both lever and pedal categories, across youth – advanced – open. 

#storyteller #drama # dance # costume

On Tuesday, July 25th at 7:30PM, the festival will open with Carnival of the Animals. Its magical story will be told by narrator and violinist Liang Kunhao, well-known harp teachers Ann Huang, Chi-Mei Hung, Menglu Chiu and Liya Huang, and over fifty young harpists from Taiwan, Hong Kong and China. These include The Symmetry Harp Duo (Hong Kong),  Taipei European School Harp Ensemble & Dancers, Pink Moon Little Stars, the Monamis Harp Ensemble, the Taiwan Harp Center Harp Ensemble, and the Sheers Arts Harp Ensemble (Beijing). 

#world premiere #electronicmusic #improvisation #lighting #multimedia #percussion #tango dance

The following evening – same time, same place, completely different music – Formosa New Wave will take over the stage. Curated by Shannon Chieh, this contemporary programme will feature five world premieres by prominent Taiwanese composers, combined with electro music, dance, percussion, lighting and multimedia. 

#classic #strings

At 7:30 PM on Thursday, June 27th, Emmanuel Ceysson will be joined by one of Taiwan’s best string quartets, formed of  National Symphony Orchestra principals I-Ching Li, Hao-Tun Teng, Yi-Shien Lien and Jubel Chen. This will be a beautiful French programme, including Fauré, Ravel, Debussy and Caplet.

#nature #photography

On June 28th, Emmanuel Ceysson will give a solo recital inspired by gardens, and birds. This will be accompanied by Pei-Hung Hsu’s stunning travel photographs, in what promises to be a romantic and rejuvenating evening.

#poetry #voice #flute #easternharp

On Saturday, June 28th, the concert at 7:30PM will be a rare feast of Eastern music for harp and female voice. Warm up performances will feature two local young talents: visually impaired harpist and singer Chu-Chun Cheng, and harpist, singer and dancer Victoria Yeh. The main special guests of the concert will be Japanese harp singer Chihiro Hayami, performing with Konghou master Wu Lin. 

#isabellemoretti

The festival’s closing concert will be given by Isabelle Moretti, on June 30th at 7:30PM. This will be Isabelle’s Taiwan début, and – doubly intriguing – she has selected readings from contemporary American Indian literature to accompany her concert programme. 

Last, but not least: after the festival has drawn to a close, Isabelle Moretti and Emmanuel Ceysson will give masterclasses (July 1st). You can apply online to attend these, here.