The Italian Harp Association has announced the repertoire for its 12th International Harp Contest in Italy Suoni d’Arpa. The competition will take place Aug. 30–Sept. 3, 2023, at the Fondazione Scuola di Alto Perfezionamento Musicale, in the medieval town of Saluzzo. The contest is open to harpists of all nationalities, and is divided into four categories with a total of €20,000 in prizes. Applications must be submitted by email by July 20, 2022.
Under the artistic direction of Emanuela Degli Esposti and Lorenzo Montenz, Suoni d’Arpa aims to foster the development of skilled young harpists, as well as to increase awareness of Italian repertoire written or arranged for harp. During the contest, the International Harp Festival Suoni d’Arpa will present recitals by famous performers and young talents, beginning with the opening concert on Aug. 29, 2023.
Repertoire requirements for the contest’s four categories are listed below.
Category A (pedal harp, up to 16 years old by July 20, 2023)
- La danzatrice di Izu by Daniele Garella (available from Stella Mattutina Edizioni)
- A freely chosen program lasting a maximum of 10 minutes
Category B (pedal harp, up to 20 years old by July 20, 2023)
- Le serenate del Vesuvio (choose one) by Giovanni Caramiello, edited by Letizia Belmondo (available from Ut Orpheus)
- A freely chosen program lasting a maximum of 12 minutes
Category C (pedal harp, no age limit)
Preliminary stage
- One sonata by Domenico Scarlatti
- A freely chosen program lasting a maximum of 12 minutes (not to be included in the second stage)
Second stage
- A freely chosen piece by an Italian composer, or by a non-Italian composer with an Italian subject
- A freely chosen program lasting a maximum of 10 minutes
Final stage
- A freely chosen program lasting a maximum of 12 minutes, including pieces performed in the previous stages
Category D (duo with harp and any instrument, no age limit)
- A freely chosen program lasting a maximum of 15 minutes, including a piece written by an Italian composer
Visit the Suoni d’Arpa website for more information.
