Víkingur Ólafsson: Goldberg Variations
Photo: Ari Magg
Tue, Jan 30, 7:30 pm &
Wed, Jan 31, 10:30 am
Ordway Concert Hall
Tickets: $35–75
Icelandic pianist Víkingur Ólafsson, the “new superstar of classical piano” (The Daily Telegraph), makes his Great Northern debut with an intimate midwinter performance of J.S. Bach’s iconic Goldberg Variations. The work—requiring both great imagination and a dexterous technique that Ólafsson is known for—showcases 30 ingenious variations on an original theme that is considered a summation of the finest writing for keyboard in the baroque era.
Víkingur, recognized as “Iceland’s Glenn Gould” by The New York Times, is a captivating communicator, both onstage and off, and his incisive musicianship and visionary programs connect deeply with audiences. His recordings have found many fans—his album streams now surpasses an astounding 260 million listeners, with music from J.S. Bach to Philip Glass.
Presented in partnership with Schubert Club.
Related event:
Víkingur Ólafsson in Conversation with Dave King
Mon, Jan 29, 5:30 pm at Berlin (venue preview)
About Víkingur Ólafsson
Icelandic pianist Víkingur Ólafsson has made a profound impact with his remarkable combination of highest level musicianship and visionary programs. His recordings for Deutsche Grammophon—Philip Glass Piano Works (2017), Johann Sebastian Bach (2018), Debussy Rameau (2020), and Mozart & Contemporaries (2021)—captured the public and critical imagination and have led to career streams of more than 400 million. His latest album, From Afar, was released in October 2022.
Now one of the most sought-after artists of today, Ólafsson’s multiple awards include the Rolf Schock Prize for music (2022), Gramophone magazine Artist of the Year, Opus Klassik Solo Recording Instrumental (twice), and Album of the Year at the BBC Music Magazine Awards.
Ólafsson continues to perform as artist in residence at the world’s top orchestras, concert halls, and festivals, and work with today’s greatest composers. In the 2022/23 season he performed with orchestras including Philharmonia Orchestra, Concertgebouworkest, Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, Berliner Philharmoniker, The Cleveland Orchestra, London and Bergen philharmonic orchestras, Toronto Symphony Orchestra, and Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal.
A captivating communicator both on and off stage, Ólafsson’s significant talent extends to broadcast, having presented several of his own series for television and radio. He was Artist in Residence for three months on BBC Radio 4’s flagship arts program, Front Row—broadcasting live during lockdown from an empty Harpa concert hall in Reykjavík, he reached millions of listeners around the world.
About Schubert Club
Since 1893, Schubert Club has invited the world’s great recital soloists and ensembles to the Twin Cities and has promoted the superb musical talents of our community through performances, education, and museum programs. One of the first arts organizations in the country, Schubert Club remains today one of the nation’s most vibrant, relevant, and respected music organizations.
