Iceland Symphony's Scenic Debut

By Paul Kilbey, 24 August 2014

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Reviewed at Royal Albert Hall, London on 22 August 2014

Tómasson, Magma (UK première)

Schumann, Piano Concerto in A minor, Op.54

Leifs, Geysir

Beethoven, Symphony no. 5 in C minor, Op.67

Jonathan Biss, Piano

Iceland Symphony Orchestra

Ilan Volkov, Conductor

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

Dark Music Days in Reykjavik

Sofia Nyblom, 30th January

For 24 years, the festival of Dark Music Days has fuelled imagination with contemporary music, thanks to the initiative of the Icelandic Composer’s Union. And with the advent of a glamorous concert hall in the midst of crisis and bankruptcy, the glittering Harpa, the crowds have grown in numbers every year.

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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Paul Kilbey

Paul was Reviews Editor at Bachtrack from 2012 to February 2014. He has written on music and culture for publications including Culture Wars, the Huffington Post, the Independent and the Guardian. He holds BA and MPhil degrees in music from Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge, and is particularly passionate about contemporary music of all types. His website is here.

The earth moves at the Proms as the Icelandic Symphony Orchestra make their debut