"J'ai beaucoup apprécié votre prise de cordes. C'est comme cela que j'aime la harpe"
Pierre Boulez, Berliner Philharmonie
Biographie
Geboren in Paris, Anne-Sophie Bertrand studierte an der Royal Academy of Music in London bei Skaila Kanga, am Königlichen Konservatorium in Brüssel sowie bei den Harfenpädagoginnen Germaine Lorenzini und Catherine Michel.
Sie ist Preisträgerin des Cardiff International Harp Contest und „Associate“ der Royal Academy of Music in London, wo sie 2018 als Visiting Professor berufen würde.
Seit 2000 ist Anne-Sophie Bertrand Solo-Harfenistin des hr-Sinfonieorchesters.
Als Solistin trat sie u.a. beim International Arts Festival in Peking, bei den Weilburger Schlosskonzerten, dem World Harp Congress in Cardiff, in der Wigmore Hall und im Purcell Room des Southbank Centre in London und in der Bolívar Hall Caracas auf.
Anne-Sophie Bertrand unterrichtet an der Akademie für Tonkunst in Darmstadt und gibt regelmäßig Meisterkurse an renommierten Institutionen wie dem Campos do Jordão (Brasilien), der Hochschule für Musik in Freiburg, dem Königlichen Konservatorium in Brüssel oder der Guildhall School for Music and Drama in London.
Sie ist Jurymitglied beim USA International Harp Competition in Bloomington/Indiana und beim Concours Français de la Harpe.
Bei drei internationalen Wettbewerben für die Interpretation Neuer Musik ausgezeichnet, strebt Anne-Sophie Bertrand an, in jedes ihrer Programme eine zeitgenössische Uraufführung mit einzubinden. Sie hat mit Dirigenten und Komponisten wie Mauricio Kagel, Pierre Boulez, Heinz Holliger, Enno Poppe und Matthias Pintscher zusammengearbeitet.
Im Rahmen von Einladungen zu internationalen Festivals wie dem Heidelberger Frühling, Ernen Musik Festival (Schweiß), Prussia Cove (Großbritannien), dem Festival en Avesnois (Frankreich)oder der Biennale für aktuelle Musik Cresc.-Festival (Deutschland) widmet sich Anne-Sophie Bertrand leidenschaftlich dem Kammermusik-Repertoire für Harfe.
- English
Anne-Sophie Bertrand is the Principal Harpist 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. Recognized for her expressive artistry and multifaceted career, she is equally in demand as a soloist, chamber musician, educator, and advocate for the harp’s contemporary repertoire.
She has performed at leading international venues including Wigmore Hall, the Beijing National Theatre, the Purcell Room, Fondation Gianadda, Alte Oper Frankfurt, St David’s Hall in Cardiff, and Simón Bolívar Hall in Caracas. Festival appearances include Heidelberger Frühling, Istanbul Harp Festival, Rheingau Music Festival, Kissinger Sommer, Festival en Avesnois, Camac Festival, and the World Harp Congress.
Anne-Sophie regularly collaborates with eminent artists and ensembles across genres. She has worked with composers such as Pierre Boulez, Heinz Holliger, and Camille Pépin, and has appeared alongside celebrated soloists like Renaud Capuçon, Ning Feng, Julian Prégardien, Yeree Suh, and Xenia Jancovich. As a guest solo harpist, she has performed under the batons of Paavo Järvi, Alain Altinoglu, Andrés Orozco-Estrada, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Hugh Wolff, and with orchestras such as the Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich, Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, and BBC Symphony Orchestra.
A passionate interpreter of contemporary and original repertoire, Anne-Sophie has premiered and arranged numerous works for the harp. Her discography—on labels including Telarc, Naxos, Pentatone, and Ars Produktion—has garnered international acclaim. Pizzicato magazine praised her compelling artistry, stating:
“There is so much sparkling power of spraying water in these waterworks, and such a communicative force from the performer, that one listens with fascination… Anne-Sophie Bertrand has a talent for storytelling similar to that of Scheherazade in the Tales of 1001 Nights.”
Her recordings have earned nominations for the Opus Klassik award and praise from critics at Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, El Mundo Clásico, and Fanfare Magazine.
Highly sought after as a teacher, Anne-Sophie gives masterclasses throughout Europe, Asia, and South America, and has served as a jury member for major international competitions, including the USA International Harp Competition, the Istanbul International Harp Competition, and the Concours Français de la Harpe.
In 2024, she was awarded the Kulturpreis by the Ingrid zu Solms Foundation, recognizing her achievements in elevating female voices in the arts and sciences.
Born in Paris, Anne-Sophie studied in London and Brussels, graduating with highest honors. A laureate of numerous international competitions—including the Cardiff Harp Competition and the BBC Solo Competition—she has also received multiple awards for her interpretation of contemporary music.
Principal harp with Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra. International recording artist and chamber musician. Associate and visiting professor of harp at the Royal Academy of Music, London. Professor of harp at the Akademie für Tonkunst, Darmstadt.
Anne-Sophie Bertrand has performed as a soloist at renowned venues such as Wigmore Hall, Purcell Room, Fondation Gianadda, Alte Oper, St David’s Hall in Cardiff, and Simon Bolivar Hall in Caracas.
She has collaborated with brilliant chamber music partners including Renaud Capuçon, Julian Prégardien and Yeree Suh, and is a guest artist at international festivals such as the Beijing Music Festival, Heidelberger Frühling, Rheingau Music Festival, Kissinger Summer, and the World Harp Congress.
Anne-Sophie has worked with the finest European orchestras, including the Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich, the Bayerische Rundfunk Symphony Orchestra, and the BBC Symphony Orchestra, under eminent conductors.
An award-winner at three competitions for the interpretation of contemporary music, Anne-Sophie has premiered and arranged works which she recorded for the labels Telarc, Naxos, Pentatone and Ars Produktion, gaining critical acclaim from the Faz, Fanfare, nominations at the prestigious Opus Klassik.
A sought-after teacher, Anne-Sophie gives masterclasses in Europe
and South America. She is a faculty member of the Akademie für Tonkunst in Darmstadt and has served as a jury member for the USA International Harp Competition and the Concours Français de la Harpe.
She is a recipient of the 2024 Kultur Preis from the prestigious Ingrid zu Solms Foundation for the Promotion of Female Elites in the Sciences and the Arts.