We’re talking with featured performers leading up to this summer’s One Harp World (OHW), a joint conference organized by the American Harp Society (AHS) and World Harp Congress (WHC). It takes place July 28–Aug 3, 2026, in Toronto.
This month, we’re featuring Anne-Sophie Bertrand, who is performing in the chamber orchestra concerto night on July 29. She is also presenting a workshop on July 30 exploring the compositions of Jeffrey Mumford. Anne-Sophie Bertrand is principal harp of the Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra, a visiting professor at the Royal Academy of Music in London, and a member of the faculty at the Akademie für Tonkunst in Darmstadt. She begins her new position as harp professor at the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz in Graz, Austria, in October 2026. Bertrand is recognized for her expressive artistry and multifaceted career, equally in demand as a soloist, chamber musician, educator, and advocate for the harp’s contemporary repertoire.
Tell us about your performance of Petite Symphonie Concertante by Frank Martin for harp, harpsichord, piano, and two string orchestras. What do you enjoy about playing a chamber concerto with this uncommon instrumentation?
What makes it so compelling is that it sits right on the boundary between concerto and chamber music. Instead of a single soloist, Martin creates a concertino group of three very different keyboard/plucked instruments—harpsichord, piano, and harp—which are sustained or set against, depending on the passage, by two small string orchestras. The result is a constantly shifting palette of colors.
How can we listen for the harp’s role during the performance?
[This work] features three contrasting movements: a lively, rhythmic [opening movement] with a jazzy, percussive character, a slow Adagio inspired by baroque style and an energic and colorful Allegro Vivace. The harp is especially present in the Adagio, with its ornamentations and long beautiful melody at the beginning. In all three movements, the sound of the three solo instruments are [heard individually] and also often mix in order to create new sound textures.
In addition to performing Frank Martin’s work, you’re giving a workshop on compositions by Jeffrey Mumford. What do you think harpists would appreciate about Mumford’s work?
Jeffrey Mumford, one of the last students of Elliott Carter, has a very personal musical style. … Mumford’s music is rich in color and complex rhythms, with many subtle shades and a refined, expressive sound. He will be present to talk about his musical path, which is very exciting.
OHW brings together a diverse range of harpists from around the world. What do you think makes your voice unique in the harp community?
I believe one can consider a musical career as a place to develop and to share one’s own interpretations, experiences, transcriptions, and ideas with the public. My main motivation, whether in solo, orchestra, chamber music, or teaching, is always musical: exploring different repertoires, ways of playing, and colors together with other musicians… and it already keeps me quite busy!
Who are some of your musical inspirations?
Claude Debussy’s music, of course, for his unique musical approach to our instrument, which makes it beautifully challenging. Playing great symphonies by Gustav Mahler or Dmitri Shostakovich in the orchestra feels like entering another world: whatever your role, you become part of a history, a unique musical cosmos! I love listening to great musicians such as Mstislav Rostropovich, Martha Argerich, Marielle Nordmann…
Among the new generation, Alexander Malofeev impressed us deeply when he performed Rachmaninov with our orchestra. Working with conductors such as Alain Altinoglu, Paavo Järvi, Susanna Mälkk or Reinhard Goebel, and composers such as Heinz Holliger, Helmut Lachenmann, Unsuk Chin, as well as many of the composers invited to the Darmstadt Summer Course, is always a great opportunity.
Many conference-goers are looking forward to hearing you perform. Which performances are YOU looking forward to hearing at OHW?
Many performances! Harpists such as Sivan Magen, Isabelle Moretti, and Naoko Yoshino, and Guan Wang’s masterclass. As [the newly appointed] harp professor at the University of Graz, I am very much looking forward to the Focus on Youth programs.
To learn more about One Harp World, visit the event website.
