Rüdiger Oppermann, born in 1954 in Germany, is a harpist known for his work with Celtic music. He began playing the Celtic harp in 1973 and developed a unique style incorporating elements of blues and electronic music. His custom-made clàrsach features 38 gold-plated bronze strings and a mechanism allowing him to bend notes. Oppermann's career included collaborations with folk musicians from Africa and Asia, as well as performances at his Klangwelten music festival in Germany. He has released numerous albums, including Planet Soup (1995) and Same Same but Different (2004), and has composed for dance theatre productions and jazz-influenced combos. His experimental approach to traditional melodies also often involved improvisation and unusual instrumentation.