Dark Music Days in Reykjavik

By Sofia Nyblom, 01 February 2014

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Reviewed at Harpa Concert Hall: Eldborg - Main Hall, Reykjavík on 30 January 2014

Tómasson, In seventh heaven

Bjarnason, The Isle is full of noises

Works by Jónsdóttir

Reich, Three Movements

Iceland Symphony Orchestra

The Hamrahlíð Choirs

Daníel Bjarnason, Conductor

Þorgerður Ingólfsdóttir, Choirmaster / chorus director

Deep space to Romantic sweep: Hough and the Iceland Symphony

David Karlin, 20th April

Sir Stephen Hough produces a memorable piece of pianism in Rachmaninov's Second Piano Concerto and Anna Thorvaldsdottir's Metacosmos will have converted some contemporary music sceptics.

****1

Ólafsson, Adès and the Iceland Symphony Orchestra kickstart the planet

Stephen Pritchard, 18th November

The Iceland Symphony Orchestra opens its season with a dazzling showpiece by Thomas Adès.

****1

Iceland Symphony demonstrates its mettle in UK debut tour

Mark Pullinger, 10th February

A bold programme from an orchestra with a bold sound as the ISO trails in the wake of Storm Ciara on its debut UK tour.

***11

Iceland Symphony Orchestra in Gothenburg

Dominic Lowe, 19th April

The Iceland Symphony Orchestra's tour to the acoustically excellent Göteborgs konserthus in Sweden for a concert of Sibelius, Strauss and Thorvaldsdóttir was an obvious success, demonstrating an orchestral sound that deserves to be heard abroad more often.

****1

Iceland Symphony's Scenic Debut

Paul Kilbey, 22nd August

The Iceland Symphony Orchestra give an assured performance in their debut concert at the Proms, most successfully in the new compositions of their compatriots.

***11

Musik wie Feuer und Eis: das Iceland Symphony Orchestra in München

David Renke, 12th November

Das Programm kombinierte eisige Musik aus dem Norden und russisches Feuer mit Werken von Grieg, Bjarnason und Tschaikowsky, mit Vikingur Ólafsson als Solist.

****1

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Sofia Nyblom

Sofia Nyblom is a Swedish arts journalist, critic, presenter and radio and tv-producer. With a background as a professionally trained singer, she today prefers watching opera and singing in choir - and she loves dance. Twitter: @nyblomsofia. Her website is here.

A mesmerising play of light and sound: Dark Music Days in Reykjavik