Bio
Biography
The story of my life could also have the title: “My home is where my harp is”.
Playing harp, however, does not only cause highest delights, but sometimes quite prosy dragging. Therefore, in former times, when I came back home from a concert at night, my father – while helping me getting out my multi-string monster out of the car – used to sigh: “Couldn’t you have learned playing flute instead?”
But the fact that there was a harp in my family was due to my grand-uncle, a painter who, during the National Socialist dictature in Germany, was a deserter and hided in the Alps for several years. Although he never was legal resident during this time he had access to the regional civilisation and learned playing the popular harp. The war being over, he came back to his homeland, the Palatinate in South Western Germany, and passed on his knowledge, as well as his harp, to my mother. It was from her I learned the basics of playing harp as well as singing. My paternal grandmother, who directed a travelling theatre all her life, brought the love for theatre into my family.
One of the ancient castles which are spread all over my home region, the Palatina.
This may be why already during my studies, and despite of a foreign scholarship and the beginning of my career as a chamber musician, I missed an essential element: the creative combination of singing, playing, dancing, and composing. After my final examination as an orchestra harpist and a half year stay in Venezuela I founded my own ensemble with saxophone and percussions. Our concerts and CD productions took us from Europe to the United States, as well as to Siberia, which was a short but unforgettable journey for us. During our work, which also included multimedia projects, we collaborated with renowned artists like Lokua Kanza, Markus Lüpertz, Bernard Tirtiaux, Galileo, Chiha, and many others.
My first bass player from Canada, Earl Hope, Canada
| CAREERIn 1999, composition of film music for “Es lebe die Freiheit – Das Leben des Götz von Berlichingen”, a film directed by Martina Klug that told the story of one of the most interesting characters of medieval Germany. In the same year, the South West German television SWR presented a program about “The harpist and composer Maria Palatine”.
In June 2000, the première of “Der blaue Strahl” (Blue Ray) took place at the grand-ducal castle in Karlsruhe; and in November 2001, the compositions “Veiled Woman” and “The sands of Afghanistan” were played for the first time. In May 2003, at the castle of Honhardt, première of “Rilke in Concert” with harp and voice that also featured Wolfram Spyra – bow-chimes and life electronic. This project made come true a dream: translating the poetry of Rainer Maria Rilke into sounds and music. In July 2005 music-award for young song-poets of the “Hanns-Seidl-Stiftung” and the «Bayrischer Rundfunk” (German Radio). The open-air-concert, which was given at the occasion of the awarding, was internationally broadcasted by radio and TV. Among others, Giora Feidmann played at this concert. In August 2005 moving to Belgium,Brussles In March 2006, at the International Day of Water, at Bari, Italy, excerpts are played of the opera ” Le chant de Neptune – composition: M. Palatine, Libretto: B. Tirtiaux.
In June 2007, the premiere of “Midnight Rose” consisted in a musical extraction of perfume, the experiment to catch the essential of a flower by sounds and rhythms, an extravagant and innovative performance for harp, voice, percussions and lights. In September 2007, première of “Water celebration”, a composition for big choir, solo instruments and percussions. Lyrics by Bernard Tirtiaux, with the participation of Ricardo Petrella. In July 2008, Maria Palatine represents the kingdom of Belgium at the Expo, Saragossa, Spain, with her new project “Water Celebration”, a composition for mixed choir and Jazz-Ensemble. In May 2009 foundation of the BRUSSELS HARP CENTER, including a harp school, a show room for harps and a concert hall where regularly are given events and work shops.
In November 2009 coming out of a new concert program and CD “spindrift” which is broadcasted by the Belgian TV and radio.
In April 2010 “spindrift tour” in Germany and Brazil.
In April 2011 “spindrift tour” in Georgia, Europe.
In July 2011 Concert at the World Harp Congress, Vancouver,Canada.
In March 2012 release of the CD “SHE”.
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