Various Composers - Pastel (Mélanie Laurent)

Information

1. Marcel Grandjany - The Colorado Trail,, Op. 28
2. Marcel Tournier - Pastels du Vieux Japon, Op. 47: No. 1, Berceuse du vent dans les Cerisiers
3. Marcel Tournier - Pastels du Vieux Japon, Op. 47: No. 2, Le Koto chante pour l’Absent
4. Marcel Tournier - Pastels du Vieux Japon, Op. 47: No. 3, Le Danseur au Sabre
5. Cécile Chaminade - Valse d'Automne, Op. 69 (arr. Mélanie Laurent)
6. Mel Bonis - Près du ruisseau, Op. 9 (arr. Mélanie Laurent)
7. Germaine Tailleferre - Sonate pour harpe: I. Allegretto
8. Germaine Tailleferre - Sonate pour harpe: II. Lento
9. Germaine Tailleferre - Sonate pour harpe: III. Perpetuum mobile
10. Jacques de la Presle - Le Jardin Mouillé
11. Henriette Renié - Contemplation
12. Marcel Grandjany - Rhapsodie pour la Harpe
13. Claude Debussy - Danse Sacrée et Danse Profane, L. 103: No. 1, Danse sacrée
14. Claude Debussy - Danse Sacrée et Danse Profane, L. 103: No. 2, Danse Profane
15. Maurice Ravel - Introduction et allegro, M.46
16. Marcel Tournier - L'Éternel Rêveur

Mélanie Laurent, harp

Manon Galy & Sarah Jégou-Sageman, violins

Élodie Laurent, viola

Maxime Quennesson, cello

Joë Christophe, clarinet

Joséphine Poncelin de Raucourt, flute

Date: 2025

Label: Indésens Calliope Records

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Pastel marks the debut album of French harpist Mélanie Laurent on Indésens Calliope Records. Centered on 20th-century French repertoire, it includes Laurent’s own transcriptions of works by Cécile Chaminade and Mel Bonis alongside pieces by Grandjany, Tournier, Tailleferre, de la Presle, Renié, and Ravel. She is joined by guest artists Manon Galy, Sarah Jégou-Sageman, Elodie Laurent, Maxime Quennesson, Joë Christophe, and Joséphine Poncelin de Raucourt. Laurent describes the album as a poetic exploration of the harp’s sensuality and nuance, blending rare works, classics, and transcriptions into an impressionistic, collaborative musical journey.

Mélanie Laurent, known for her velvety sound, virtuosity, and expressive sensitivity, gained international prominence after winning First Prize at the 2019 USA International Harp Competition in Bloomington, becoming the first harpist named Talent Adami Classique. Trained in Paris under Isabelle Moretti and Geneviève Létang, she has since performed widely, appearing at major festivals and venues in Europe, the United States, the Middle East, and Asia. Highlights include collaborations with Gautier Capuçon, performances with leading French orchestras, and a Mezzo-TV broadcast from Dubai Opera. In 2023 she became principal harpist of the Strasbourg Philharmonic and now also teaches at the Strasbourg Conservatory and the Haute École des Arts du Rhin.