Víkingur Ólafsson szólóestje

“Iceland’s Glenn Gould”, as a New York Times critic declared Víkingur Ólafsson, feels most at home tackling the music of the true greats – Bach, Beethoven and Schubert, for instance. The programme he has compiled from the works of this trio does not have an intermission as the 80-minute recital is all “in E”. In other words, it comprises three pieces in E major and three in E minor sequenced such that the music of Bach and Schubert is always the ‘question’, with the ‘answer’ provided in each case by a Beethoven sonata. This is more than just a programme, it’s a composition. Dare we say in advance that the 41-year-old pianist’s concert will be a wonderful experience? In this case, misleading predictions are not something we need be wary of, the programme and performer are sure to deliver catharsis.