Chloe Chua: Heal

Rising young violinist, Chloe Chua, has compiled a playlist of musical works that have proven reliable companions whenever she needs to recover from the stresses of her life as a soloist. “Sometimes,” Chua tells Apple Music Classical, “all we need is to pause and catch a breather in this bustling and eventful world. Here are some of the pieces I listen to when I take a break from my practice or rehearsal sessions, which really soothes me and helps me to calm down at times.” Some of the tracks offer straightforward tranquility—take the very first of Mendelssohn’s Songs Without Words, or the carefree “Dreamland” by Alexis Ffrench, described by Chua as “one of my most favourite modern pieces”. Chua explains, “It is very therapeutic and comforting to listen to, especially after a busy day. I find solace in the way it helps brighten up my days. I hope listeners can feel the same way when listening to this piece too.” This quality of solace a piece of music may offer becomes all the more meaningful when it shares, however briefly, those moments of doubt we all experience as we go through the hard knocks of life. You may hear this in the song-like strains of Schubert’s Impromptu in G-flat Major, played by the legendary pianist Vladimir Horowitz; or in the opening of Franck’s Violin Sonata, played so beguilingly by David Oistrakh; or in the well-loved slow movement of Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2, described by Chua as having “a solemn yet airy mood that never fails to calm me down”. Try Chua’s regular “go-to” recording, to which she feels “a special connection”, performed by the Polish pianist Krystian Zimerman.