A tribute to humanity: Víkingur Ólafsson plays the Goldbergs in Sydney

Víkingur Ólafsson

By Zoltán Szabó, 20 March 2024

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“his mastery of handling the modern keyboard was as eloquent as it was joyful”

Reviewed at Sydney Opera House: Concert Hall, Sydney on 18 March 2024

Bach, Goldberg Variations, BWV988

Víkingur Ólafsson, Piano

All about mi : Víkingur Ólafsson conquers Paris

David Karlin, 15th March

In Bach, Beethoven and Schubert, the Icelandic pianist demonstrates how perfect technique and total control can lead to expressivity.

*****

A brilliant UK premiere of John Adams’ After the Fall

David Karlin, 25th February

The Icelandic pianist and Finnish conductor make a superb case for John Adams' latest concerto; the Philharmonia play Ravel's Daphnis et Chloé strongly but don't convince completely.

****1

John Adams leads Americana, past and present, with LA Phil

Néstor Castiglione, 23rd January

Compelling as a composer and conductor, Adams restored Roy Harris' Third Symphony to the Los Angeles repertoire, alongside one of his most recent works.

*****

Chills and thrills from Pappano and the Czech Philharmonic

Frank Kuznik, 27th November

In expert hands, a terrifying 12-tone opera and a heroic piano concerto rattle the walls in Prague’s Rudolfinum.

*****

Víkingur Ólafsson and the Philharmonia launch The Anvil's season

David Truslove, 23rd September

Involving performances of standard repertoire by the Philharmonia open Basingstoke’s international concert season.

****1

Sonic brilliance and immersive energy from the Tonhalle in Hamburg

Mengguang Huang, 16th March

At the Elbphilharmonie, a programme of Ligeti, Adams and Lutosławski showcases the power of modern orchestral music to engage both intellectually and emotionally.

*****

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Zoltán Szabó

Zoltán Szabó is a cellist and musicologist. Having migrated from his native Hungary to Australia in 1985, he worked with the Australian Chamber Orchestra in Sydney until 1991, when he became Principal Cello with Opera Australia. In 2017, he was awarded with a Doctor of Philosophy degree (PhD). Currently, he is teaching music history and musicology at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.

A tribute to humanity: Víkingur Ólafsson plays the Goldberg Variations in Sydney