Album description:

With her solo album George, Willemijn Knödler pays tribute to her son George and to her cello. George suffers from Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), a rare condition that can cause benign tumours on nerves throughout the body, with life-threatening complications. Willemijn is a passionate cellist and music is a healing and nourishing element in her life. Enjoying everything there is, beauty and joy, not avoiding sadness but embracing it and transforming it into vitality: that is the motto conveyed by this colourful and playful album.

The programme on the album consists of compositions that support Willemijn in every emotion that colours her life. For example, Ligeti’s Sonata for solo cello contains both a desperate internal dialogue (part 1) and a resolute statement of strength (part 2). Gershwin’s Summertime is a comforting lullaby. Kurtág evokes feelings of forgiveness, there is frenzied virtuosity in Crumb’s cello solo sonata, then an adaptation of Jungle Book’s childlike energy, and a lesser-known work by Telemann contrasts this with the freshness and transparency of Baroque music. The album is complemented by Enescu’s rarely performed Sérénade en Sourdine (with star violinist Rosanne Philippens as guest musician) and a commissioned composition by Wijnand van Klaveren that symbolises fighting a dragon.

Because that is what Willemijn, together with her son (and daughter + partner), proves with this album: fight the dragons in life, you will prevail and be rewarded with a zest for life.

The proceeds from this album will be donated to the organisation Let’s Beat NF, which supports research into better treatment and quality of life for children with NF.

Physical- and digital album release: 14 November 2025

Catalogue number: 7MNTN063
EAN:8720844088348

Available as a physical copy at e.g.
bol.com
Fnac

Click here for booklet

Promo video:
Video credits: Mariëlle Bakker