‘Star Wars: Across the Stars’ performed on harp is simply beautiful

25 July 2017, 17:22 | Updated: 4 August 2017, 15:23

Claire Jones, the former Royal Harpist, returns with 15 pieces of music that celebrate one thing, love, in all its forms.

Claire Jones, the UK’s best selling classical harpist is back with a new album packed with the world’s most romantic melodies. 

Claire became a household name in 2011 following her performance at the Royal Wedding for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. She also held the position of Official Harpist to HRH The Prince of Wales 2007-11.

Her new album is built around the theme of love and includes a piece written by Claire's husband, Chris Marshall. Cariad, which means ‘love’ in Welsh, is dedicated to their daughter. Here's a live performance of the piece, filmed exclusively for Classic FM.

Watch the live session

In 2013, Claire was diagnosed with ME / CFS but has now made a full recovery:

"As I look back over my life experience so far, love has been a vital and central theme all the way through, and I could never have made it through those highs and lows if it weren't for the love of my family. 

"The album, This Love is a celebration of love for one another. In my case, the love of my husband, family, and friends makes my life what it is, as does my love of music. It's this love that has kept me going in the really hard times of the illness I went through, and learning to love myself a little more was at the heart of my recovery from ME/CFS. It feels emotional and honest to be creating an album of the world's most romantic, love inspired classical melodies". 

This Love includes the Intermezzo from Cavalleria Rusticana, Shostakovich's Romance from The Gadfly and Pachelbel's Canon, alongside love themes from the big screen such as Craig Armstrong's The Balcony Scene from Romeo and Juliet, A Thousand Years from Twilight and Ennio Morricone's Cinema Paradiso. 

There are a few surprises too, such as Across the Stars from Star Wars Attack of the Clones.