If you are like me, you have never heard of or even seen an arpeggione — a six-stringed instrument that looks a little bit like a guitar but is bowed like a cello. Well now’s your chance to hear one in person! On Saturday night, December 8th at 7:30 pm at the Lutheran Church of Honolulu, Pacific International Concert Artists will be presenting Nicolas Deletaille and Alain Roudier, who will be playing music of Schubert, Servais and Liszt on the arpeggione and fortepiano. Yup, you guessed it, they are borrowing our fortepiano for the concert. The duo just flew in from Europe and are this very moment rehearsing in our condo! They will also play modern cello and piano.

Back to the arpeggione. It was invented around 1823 by Johann Georg Stauffer (1778-1853) and its signature composition was a sonata by Franz Schubert, D.821, published in 1871 long after the arpeggione was defunct.

Nicolas Deletaille is a specialist on the arpeggione and you can click here to see his website. You’ll also find links to close-up pictures, videos, repertoire and recordings.

Tickets may be purchased by calling 256-4336 or visit the Pacific International Concert Artists website.