Olafsson

Norway meets Iceland in wildly inventive ambient-gothic improvisations recorded in an abandoned Reykjavik warehouse Jo Berger Myhre and Ólafur Björn Ólafsson have created a strikingly original sound-world that, while it may have its antecedents, doesn’t really remind you of anyone else.

Víkingur Ólafsson goes back to Bach for his highly anticipated new album. Celebrated for his visionary interpretations of the composer’s music, the Icelandic pianist follows up the award-winning Johann Sebastian Bach of 2018 with this stunning recording of the Goldberg Variations, a work he’s dreamed of recording for 25 years. Check out Víkingur’s tour dates to experience his live performances of this monumental work, to which he is devoting the entire 2023–24 season and get a first taste by watching his video of the opening Aria.

'Reflections' features 'reworkings' by Ólafsson and other contemporary artists - alongside several of the Icelandic pianist's unreleased Debussy recordings. Víkingur Ólafsson's remarkable originality and powerful musical conviction have seen him become one of the most sought-after artists of today. The global success of 'Debussy Rameau' follows that of his award-winning 'Johann Sebastian Bach' album and its sister release, 'Bach Reworks', featuring reimaginings by such diverse artists as Peter Gregson, Hildur Guðnadóttir, Ryuichi Sakamoto, and Skúli Sverrisson. The same thread of inspiration runs through this release, as Ólafsson and his fellow composers celebrate the work of two French masters and translate their musical languages into a contemporary idiom.

Pianist Víkingur Ólafsson releases the third volume in the Debussy • Rameau Reflections series, featuring reworks by Víkingur Ólafsson and other groundbreaking artists including Icelandic singer-songwriter Helgi Jónsson, genre-defying Icelandic duo Hugar, Texas-based post-rock minimalist ensemble Balmorhea and Christian Badzura, Vice President A&R New Repertoire at Deutsche Grammophon.

Torfi Ólafsson was born in Reykjavík, Iceland on November 8, 1955.
He grew up in Kópavogi, and at age 8 studied guitar at the music school there for four years. Trumpet and horns were the instruments which he played in his school band when it was formed in 1966 until 1971. In 1975, he obtained a degree from MT with a B.E.D. from KHÍ in 1980.