On April 4th, Marleen de Bakker presents a deeply personal portrait with her solo album Mena, featuring a carefully curated selection of music specifically for the harp. Only her family and closest friends call Marleen by the name Mena. This affectionate nickname reflects the album’s intimacy, as the program consists solely of compositions that resonate deeply with Marleen’s own nature.
It includes pieces she has played since a very young age, such as Handel’s Tema con Variazioni and renowned works like Benjamin Britten’s Suite for Harp, Op. 83 and Henriette Renié’s Contemplation. The album also features newly composed works written especially for her: the meditative Blauw by Anne-Maartje Lemereis and the spectacular The Story of the Dragonfly by Rieteke Hölscher.
Mena is a vibrant and sparkling album performed by a young top-tier harpist. The seasoned listener will recognize Marleen’s extensive orchestral experience in her references to other orchestral instruments, while those newly discovering the harp will enjoy her sonorous and fluid storytelling on the instrument.
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