Pia-Viola Mangels plays Nataliana [Composer’s Spotlight]

Pia-Viola Mangels wins first place playing “Nataliana” by DHC

In this interview, harpist Pia-Viola Mangels shares her experience playing ‘Nataliana.’ She describes Nataliana as a powerful, elegant, and mesmerizing piece that drew her in from the very first listen. The song’s dynamics inspired her to perform with confidence and freedom, which helped her win first place at a harp competition. Nataliana became a defining work in her repertoire, and it helped her to find a deep sense of confidence in her musical voice.

©️Elena Zaucke

Pia-Viola Mangels

Pia-Viola Mangels is a 21-year-old harpist and a student at the Zerboni Acting School (Schauspielschule Zerboni) in Hamburg. She’s been a musician her whole life, since her dad is a violinist and music teacher. Around age seven, she then switched from violin to harp and has played it ever since.

Apart from playing, she is also really passionate about writing, recording and printing her own compositions. She created her first little piece at 11 years old and is really into composing ever since.

Since she is pursuing an acting career, there is a chance for her to one day play the role of a harpist in an episode of a series/movie, which is a big dream for her.

Continue reading below for the full interview with Pia-Viola Mangels

Watch Pia-Viola Mangels play “Nataliana” in a studio at the St. Pauli Bunker in Hamburg.

A Mini-Interview with Pia-Viola

How would you describe your experience of playing the piece?

Powerful, elegant and truly mesmerizing.

What do people say when you play this piece? Do you have favorite memories of people’s reactions to it?

People are both amazed by the whimsical parts of the piece, as well as impressed by the smoothness of the runs that follow right after.

My favorite reaction to me playing this piece was when I played this piece at a competition where I won first place, a woman (a pianist) in the audience told me that it seemed as if my harp and I were “melted together”, the way I played so “intertwined with the instrument” while performing Nataliana.

Hearing that made me really happy. What a cool thing to hear as a musician!

What drew you to this piece – why did you choose to learn it?

When I first heard this piece played by another harpist, I was absolutely mesmerized. To me, it showed how impressive this instrument must seem to the people listening. It really pulled me in more and more, kind of hypnotizing.

Then I pictured myself confidently playing this piece and immediately got to work, together with my amazing harp teacher Sylvia Reiß, who has done workshops before with DHC and watched her perform live!

What does this piece add to your repertoire (and/or your life) that you didn’t have before?

“Nataliana” is the one particular piece I chose to record for the ‘skills-section’ on my acting-profile, to demonstrate my ability to play the harp.

Therefore, opening up the possibility of me (as an actress) being cast for the role of a harpist. This is an absolute dream of mine, playing a harpist in a movie or series. And having my performance of “Nataliana” on the acting platforms is the first step closer to that goal.

That way, this piece definitely adds something new and special to my life, opening up the possibility of combining my two passions of being an actress AND a harpist.

What would you tell someone else who’s thinking of learning this piece that you wish you’d known before you learned it?

It actually is “manageable” to learn this piece; If you fall in love with it, definitely give it a try! I promise, it’s so worth it.

On one hand, it’s absolutely stunning, but it’s also so much fun to play, because there is so much freedom to perform in your way, in your own style. And also, there are so many different elements in it to “harp around with”.

What do you think you can get from working directly with the composer of the piece that you can’t get from the sheet music?

Unfortunately, I didn’t get to work directly with the composer. But I assume that if your goal is to really feel the ‘essence’ of a piece in order to play it, there is no better way to do that than working directly with the composer.

Additional message you want to add?

This was the piece I won first place with at a music-competition in my area. Each candidate had to play two very different pieces on their instrument, I chose my own composition and “Nataliana” and I’m really happy with that decision. I won first place for the creative award (my own composition) and also first place for my performance of “Nataliana!”

Through this piece, I could show my abilities on the harp, as well as my musicality to the jury, because it really inspired and allowed me to play with expression and to use the freedom of “Nataliana,” to let your own sense of style show while performing.

Overall, learning to play this piece at that time gave me a lot of confidence in my abilities on the harp, which I genuinely appreciate so much!!

Pia-Viola’s studio photo

Connect with this artist and let them know what has opened up for your own self-expression in seeing and hearing their performance, and please share in the comments below.

Email: harpistpiaviola@gmail.com

Stay tuned for more artists soon and check out my Composer’s Spotlight blog series, featuring other talented musicians who played my song!  If you’re playing my music, apply here to be in the ‘Composer’s Spotlight’ blog series.