What if music could do more than entertain—what if it could heal?
From ancient folk melodies to minimalist music, Danielle Riegel reimagines the harp as a bridge between worlds.At TEDxPraça Gil Eanes, Danielle performed the following program:Claude Debussy – Danse Sacrée (arr. Alessandro Palazzani); Ludovico Einaudi – I Giorni and Traditional St. Kilda – Dùn (arr. Ailie Robertson).Let the sound of the harp transport you—from the salons of Belle Époque Paris to the wild shores of the Scottish Isles, and into a space of quiet reflection and feeling. Danielle Riegel is a classically trained harpist with an unconventional path. Drawn to the harp from the age of three—when its sound stirred a sense of something ancient and luminous—she entered the Royal Conservatory’s young talent program at twelve. Her early career spanned national competitions, international study in Amsterdam, Berlin, and Lyon, and performances as a soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral harpist.For over 15 years, she was principal harpist with The Hague Symphony Orchestra. Alongside this, she developed cross-disciplinary projects with dancers, visual artists, and composers. In her 30s, Danielle expanded her creative work through studies in yoga, movement, sound healing, and harp therapy. In 2020, she relocated to Portugal, choosing to dedicate herself to the Celtic harp as a more intuitive and personal voice.Her performances now blend French impressionism, minimalism, Celtic folk, and ambient sound—inviting stillness, deep listening, and emotional connection. Each concert is a journey that opens the heart, awakens the senses, and reconnects the listener to inspiration and inner freedom. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
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