CALVO-MANZANO, Maria Rosa

María Rosa Calvo-Manzano is a Spanish composer, harpist, musicologist and educator, born in Madrid in 1946. She is one of the central figures of modern Spanish harp history and is widely associated with the creation of the Modern Spanish Harp School. Her career brings together performance, composition, pedagogy, research and the preservation of Spain’s harp heritage.
As a performer, Calvo-Manzano became known for her refined technique, historical awareness and commitment to expanding the harp repertoire. She was a founding member and solo harpist of the RTVE Symphony Orchestra, and her international career included concerts in Europe and the United States. Her work as a performer has been closely linked to the rediscovery of Spanish music for harp, from Renaissance traditions to contemporary works.
As a composer, she has contributed to the renewal of the harp repertoire through works for solo harp and for harp with different instrumental combinations. Her music explores modern sonorities, new technical effects and the expressive possibilities of the instrument. At the same time, she has encouraged many contemporary Spanish composers to write for harp, resulting in a large body of new repertoire dedicated to her, premiered by her and often published or recorded through projects connected with the Asociación Arpista Ludovico.
Calvo-Manzano has also played an important role as a scholar and teacher. She developed the ARLU technique and founded the Asociación Arpista Ludovico, dedicated to protecting and promoting Spanish harp heritage. Her books, recordings, critical editions and teaching have made her a leading figure in the study and transmission of harp music in Spain and beyond.