Elena Klass (harp): a harpist’s experience from childhood to the Mariinsky orchestra

A harpist of the Mariinsky orchestra, Elena Klass talks about her first steps in the profession, playing in ensemble and her favorite operas and ballets in the Mariinsky repertoire. Elena Klass graduated from the St Petersburg Conservatory in 2004 and completed her postgraduate study in 2008 under Prof. Asya Varosyan. Prize-winner of the international Classical Heritage competition (Moscow, 1993). Since 2000 she has been member of the Mariinsky Youth Orchestra and since 2005 of the main Mariinsky Orchestra where she holds the Assistant Principal Harp position. She performs harp solos in the operas, ballets and symphonic works and as a member of chamber ensembles plays in the Mariinsky chamber halls and other concert venues of St Petersburg. She participated in Mariinsky tours to Ann Arbor (2012), Ravenna (2014), Los Angeles and Costa Mesa (2015) playing harp solos in Giselle, Swan Lake, Raymonda and other ballets