A LIFE IN MUSIC
Danielle Riegel is a Dutch-French harpist with an international career spanning more than three decades. Known for her expressive touch, refined tone and emotional depth, she brings together the depth of a distinguished classical career with an open and continually evolving approach to the harp.
EARLY YEARS
Drawn to the harp from early childhood, Danielle entered the Young Talent Department of the Royal Conservatory of The Hague at the age of twelve. Her studies continued in the Netherlands and France and later in Berlin, where she completed the prestigious Konzertexamen at the Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler with highest distinction, culminating in a concerto performance with the Berliner Symphonie-Orchester.
ON STAGE
Solo and orchestral performance have run alongside each other throughout her career. Danielle has appeared as soloist with orchestras in the Netherlands, Germany and Italy and is a prizewinner of national and international harp competitions. Her early orchestral years included principal-harp positions with Jeugd Orkest Nederland and the Nationaal Jeugdorkest, followed by the Schleswig-Holstein Festival Orchestra in 2000, with international touring and performances at the Concertgebouw Amsterdam.
15 YEARS IN THE ORCHESTRA
From 2004 to 2020 Danielle was principal harpist of the Residentie Orkest – The Hague Philharmonic. During those fifteen years she performed major symphonic and contemporary repertoire, appeared as soloist and chamber musician, toured internationally and took part in recordings, broadcasts, opera and dance productions. Selected featured appearances included music by Mauricio Kagel, Frank Martin and Mozart. Her wider orchestral career has included performances with leading ensembles such as the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, Netherlands Radio Philharmonic and Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen.
BEYOND ONE TRADITION
Her musical world has never belonged to a single period or genre. Alongside the classical repertoire, Danielle has worked extensively in contemporary music, explored historical performance practice on early harp and viola da gamba, and moved through French Impressionism, neoclassical music, improvisation and crossover. This breadth has become an essential part of her identity as a musician.
AN EVOLVING VOICE
Danielle has developed an increasingly individual approach to solo performance, shaped in part by the Atlantic landscape and natural environment. Rather than leaving her classical background behind, her present work brings together many strands that have existed throughout her musical life: refined expression and emotional depth, curiosity about new music, freedom of interpretation, collaboration and a fascination with sound and resonance.
TODAY
Today she performs across Europe in solo concerts, curated programmes and collaborative projects. Alongside traditional concert performance, she has also developed formats such as lay-down concerts and Harp & Sound Journeys, offering different ways of experiencing live music while remaining grounded in the musicianship at the heart of her work.
OLTREMARE
Her 2026 album Einaudi on Harp – Oltremare (Beyond the Sea), released internationally by Challenge Records, is part of this continuing musical journey.
LET'S CONNECT
For concert bookings, collaborations, press enquiries and further information.