Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Rita Costanzi. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Rita, thanks for joining us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

Performing my Life Story via Hershey Felder’s Script, “Woman On A Ledge,” is the most meaningful Project I have ever embarked upon.

Responding to Hershey’s request for my Life Story (which is now my published Memoir, The Strings of My Heart,) became the catalyst for my own Healing.

Working with Hershey on the script, then continuing under lock down on my own – editing, re-writing, memorizing, underscoring with music and putting it all together for the stage was a challenging, profound, heartbreaking, time consuming, exhausting , cathartic and ultimately rewarding process which now gains strength every time I perform it.

It was my ultimate healing after Divorce – having to leave my first and only Love after 41 years of intimacy, 35 years of marriage, 2 children, 2 grandchildren and a whole dramatic Love Affair….

Now I stand onstage as my own Director and Authority, with emotional Authenticity and speak my Truth. My Voice is like Thunder. My audience trembles….My suffering and pain are transmuted into Beauty – into Art – and women weep (sometimes sob) in my arms afterward.

I am making Broadway and Theatrical History – as far as we know – the first time a woman performs a solo, full-length dramatic script accompanied by classical harp.

Resilience.

Rita, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My Father was a distinguished Professor of Viola at The Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY. I grew up in a very artistic, high-striving and disciplined family – meeting some of the greatest Artists of the last century. The Lyon & Healy Harp Factory in Chicago had sent some newly-designed small instruments for an experimental class – to determine if the harp could be taught in the public schools. The Harp Professor called several colleagues who had small children with piano and theory background to take part in the class. I was 9 years old when the harp was first placed on my shoulder and my Star of Destiny aligned. After my training, I won the Principal Position in the Vancouver Symphony. While raising 2 children, in Vancouver, Canada, I played in orchestras, chamber music and as a soloist, plus recorded CDs; my concerts were almost always broadcast nationally by the CBC Radio. Intuiting that I needed to study acting (privately) to work out the issues of growing up with a famous father, I met a local playwright who- without my knowledge – proposed a one-woman theater piece for a seedling project, and was accepted. Suddenly, I was to perform in public – and was “discovered” as a natural actor – without any formal training! Since then, four scripts have been written for me . When I moved to NY City, I landed in the highest theatrical office – Hal Prince – and was accepted by his long-time Associate, Arthur Masella. It was Masella who first told me that I belonged Off-Broadway, but he could not find a Producer for the show we developed together. When Hershey Felder met me and saw my work, he decided he wished to write a Theater Piece that he felt he could produce. I was recently divorced at the time, and thought my Off-Broadway Dream would be realized. Three years later, the script (entitled Woman On A Ledge) was finished and then Covid hit. Felder moved to Italy and began live streaming. Our Destiny Paths separated….Felder’s is the most extensive: script I have ever performed – one hour forty minutes onstage – no intermission – as a classical harpist who acts a fully dramatic story. Last year, I was invited to do a 12-show run Off-Off Broadway at Theater for the New City. and received wonderful reviews. To our knowledge, no female classical harpist has ever done this. (Men have done Harpo Imitations, etc.) I have taught Master Classes at Festivals in Brazil, Venezuela, Argentina, Canada, Bulgaria, Poland and the U.S. My uniqueness as a Teacher is the “Open Window” Retreat which was just inaugurated in Krakow, Poland last August. explained on my website. I not only teach the harp technique but give students inspired psycho-spiritual Teaching as well – addressing the enormous pressures that exist in a classical music training. I was given a unique Gift – a Depth of Expression which is unusual with players of my instrument. Audiences tell me they are riveted, spell-bound, mesmerized, enchanted and deeply moved. My Father recognized this gift when I was a small child and I have worked an entire lifetime to be worthy of it. Music is my Life and Breath: whether playing bedside for the dying or on concert stages, worldwide, I feel a calling to share the healing power of music. Being vulnerable – completely transparent – is why my music touches audiences in deep and unexpected ways. After many years of being a bit of a Recluse, I now emerge in Transcendence: an award-winning short Documentary Film, “Moonlight in the Bronx,” a classical CD with acclaimed oboist, Alex Klein entitled Amoroso (streamed over 4 million times!), a stage play, Woman On A Ledge and now a published Memoir, The Strings of My Heart . These are the fruits of my withdrawal and Inner Healing/Searching/Striving. Irish Author, Treasa O’Driscoll writes: “Rita Costanzi bears the mark of the True Artist whose Task it is to rise above the tumult of the times. As a force of Truth and Love in herself and a musician of exceptional accomplishment, no one who hears her can remain unchanged….” I believe it is my Purpose as a true Artist of my time to serve Humanity through my Art. A Philosopher once wrote, “Beauty is born of Pain and Suffering.” Dostoevsky wrote: “Beauty will save the world.” This is my Highest Task and Deepest Fulfillment in Life.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

My Goal or Mission:

I have devoted an entire lifetime to Beauty – creating Beauty through the Art of Music, Theater, Writing and Teaching, and also in Living my daily life….

Serving Humanity’s Catharsis/Healing through my Art with the Courage to be Vulnerable – “To be seen through” are my Goals.

The Poet Rumi wrote: “The Wound is the place where the Light enters you….”

As a true Artist of my time who has suffered profound pain and endured, I now bring Light through my story’s Open Wound. My Story of Adversity and subsequent Resilience facilitates the catharsis of all Women.

Dying and Becoming – Withdrawal, Comeback, Transcendence….(From author Gail Sheehy)

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being an Artist is that I do what I love.

For me, it is a Vocation – a Calling – a Passion – not a job. therefore, I give – whether I am paid or not….

Like eating, breathing and sleeping: I MUST.

The Harp and I are One: inseparable….

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.ritacostanzi.com
• Youtube: @RitaCostanzi

Image Credits

In order of appearance:

David Behzadpour

ShelleyandKeithPhotos

Angel Casas

John Petrone