Quebecois harpist Valérie Milot released her new album Nebulæ on Oct. 7 on the 2xHD label. Inspired by space exploration, the album features two new works for harp by Quebecois composers Denis Gougeon and Amélie Fortin (with sheet music to be published in early 2026), in addition to works by Debussy, Salzedo, Gluck, Liszt, and others. The album is available in vinyl and CD formats via Anemone13. Digital options include streaming on major platforms, as well as high-resolution audio downloads from HD Tracks, Pro Studio Masters, or NativeDSD.
Milot says in her introduction to the album liner notes that Nebulæ exists as a dual project: as a performance tour with scientific and philosophical themes, and as an album that encourages listeners to reflect on their role in the universe. “I wanted to create a meditative space where each interpretation, each musical sequence, guides the listener toward deep reflection on our place in cosmic immensity,” Milot says. “Who are we in this vastness? Where does our trajectory as conscious beings suspended between the stars lead us? Music, this language that transcends all barriers, ... brings us together in this quest for meaning.”
The first harpist in nearly a century to win the Prix d’Europe, Milot describes herself as a harpist and humanitarian entrepreneur driven by the mission to develop equitable access to music. In addition to solo performances and collaborations, she performs as a soloist with major orchestras. In 2016, she founded Anémone 47, an organization she now co-directs with Stéphane Tétreault, which she says “cultivates the transformative power of music for all.” Her discography includes more than 30 recordings, and her YouTube channel totals more than four million views.
Check out our cover interview with Milot in the March-April 2023 issue of Harp Column. For more information, visit her website.
