VDB launches our new recording label with debut release
Van Diemen’s Band proudly announces the launch of our new self-run label with the release of BOHEMIA—a vivid new album that captures the expressive heart of 17th-century Central Europe in the wake of the Thirty Years’ War.
The full album will be available to stream from Friday 20 June 2025, with the first single—Pachelbel’s Canon and Gigue—available now across all major platforms.
Artistic Director Julia Fredersdorff describes Bohemia as “a deeply expressive journey through a landscape of loss, resilience and joy,” reflecting the remarkable creativity that flourished despite the devastation of war. Drawing on repertoire sourced from the Kroměříž Music Archive and beyond, the album features music by Schmelzer, Biber, Pezel, Muffat, and Pachelbel, performed with the signature vitality and imagination that defines Van Diemen’s Band.
The release of BOHEMIA marks a major milestone in VDB's evolution. The new VDB label will serve as a creative home for our expanding discography and future-focused digital activity, including concert film releases and projects with associate artists. Up to three albums are planned for 2025, with Van Diemen’s Fiddles and Katie Yap’s Multitudes to follow later this year.
Fredersdorff continues: “Launching our own label allows us to share music on our own terms, directly with listeners who care deeply about historically informed performance, artistic excellence and bold musical storytelling.”
The release of BOHEMIA aligns with Van Diemen’s Band being featured as ABC Classic’s Performer of the Week from Monday 23 June, culminating in a national broadcast on Friday 27 June at 5:00pm AEDT. A studio performance of Pachelbel’s Canon, accompanied by an interview with Vanessa Hughes, will feature in the station’s national broadcast schedule.
Two new teaser videos offer a glimpse into the album’s vivid sound world, showcasing Van Diemen’s Band’s dynamic approach to 17th-century repertoire.
Watch VDB perform the playful and unpredictable Sonata Jucunda and the elegant Paduana by Dietrich Becker.
