Symphony Tacoma: Earth Songs from the Harp
$19-$82
Deborah Henson-Conant, harp
Sarah Ioannides, conductor
Composer, performer, singer, author, cartoonist, comedian, electric harpist – mix those and you begin to describe Deborah Henson-Conant. Symphony Tacoma is thrilled to perform with this phenom! The Grammy-nominated artist was on NBC, CBS, CNN, and starred in two PBS specials. Nicknamed “Jimi Hendrix of the Harp,” Deborah (with her rockstar leather-and-boots attire) transfixes audiences with her electric-harp strapped on like a guitar, making it wail like Led Zeppelin or enchant with Celtic folksongs. Sounds come from its 32-strings nobody would predict: Blues. Jazz. Flamenco. Distortion.
Symphony Tacoma anticipates incorporating an interactive audience-education session along with this show. Henson-Conant, Maestra Ioannides, and our principal harp player plan to hold a “post-concert talkback” giving insights into the repertoire, answer student Q&A, and offer the opportunity to see the famous electric harp up-close.