Today, the harpist and contemporary classical performer-composer Lara Somogyi and Montreal-based composer and pianist Jean Michael-Blais released their long-awaited collaborative album désert via Mercury KX/UMusic.
This pairing of two distinctive voices in modern classical music results in an album that is as evocative as its title suggests — a sprawling, introspective soundscape that feels both vast and intimate.
désert is a wonderful, dreamy album filled with delicate and intricate conversations between harp and piano.
Somogyi’s ethereal harp work creates shimmering textures that float above Blais’s expressive, melodic piano lines.
Together, they craft pieces that feel spontaneous yet meticulously composed, blending contemporary classical with ambient and experimental flourishes.
The album thrives on its sense of space and restraint, allowing each note and resonance to breathe.
Tracks like “refuge” showcase the duo’s remarkable synergy, where cascading harp arpeggios intertwine with contemplative piano motifs, creating moments of weightlessness.
Meanwhile, more meditative compositions like “dusk” offer a sense of stillness and reflection, drawing the listener into a state of quiet wonder.
As with much of Blais’s work, there’s an emotional immediacy here, but Somogyi’s contributions add a new dimension — a luminous, almost otherworldly quality.
The result is an album that feels both grounded and transcendent, perfect for moments of introspection or late-night listening.
désert gets: 📷📷📷📷📷📷📷📷📷/10.
Lara Somogyi & Jean-Michel Blais – désert [Streaming]
