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Total Immersion: Icelandic Chill - Soundworlds

BBC SO / Christian Karlsen

,Hall
Image of Bara Gisladottir holding a cello in a blue circle

Europe’s most northerly capital city pulses with creativity. Tonight, the BBC Symphony Orchestra embraces the Reykjavík new music scene in all its diversity and flair.

Icelandic composers are creating sounds like no-one has ever heard, while record labels such as Reykjavík’s Bedroom Community channel a very Icelandic vibe, and take it global. From Bára Gísladóttir's genre-bending bass concerto Hringla (performed by the composer) to the poetic soundscapes of Daníel Bjarnason, everything in this concert is new to the UK.

And after the interval, the mood chills. The atmospheric soundworlds of Ólafur Arnalds and Valgeir Sigurðsson are familiar from TV and movies, but in Iceland, everyone stands on shifting ground. Two major new works take us into the heart of the modern Icelandic imagination: stunning, rarely-seen outtakes from the movie Dreamland merge with Sigurðsson’s music to evoke a natural world as fragile as it is beautiful.

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Age guidance: 5+. Under 14s must be accompanied by someone aged 16 or over. 

Presented by the BBC Symphony Orchestra.

Programme

  • Ólafur Arnalds   Another Kind of Peace (World Premiere)
  • Daníel Bjarnason   I Want To Be Alive (UK Premiere)
  • Bára Gísladóttir   Hringla (UK Premiere)
  • Valgeir Sigurðsson   Dreamland Suite (UK Premiere)

Performers

  • Bára Gísladóttir   double bass
  • Christian Karlsen   conductor

Ticket prices

Standard
£15 - £50 *
* Excludes £4 booking fee

Booking fees

£4 booking fee per online/phone transaction. 

No fee when tickets are booked in person.

Booking fees are per transaction and not per ticket. If your booking contains several events the highest booking fee will apply. The booking fee may be reduced on certain events. Members do not pay booking fees.

Hall

Location
The Barbican Hall is located within the main Barbican building. Head to Level G and follow the signs to find your seating level. 

Address
Barbican Centre
Silk Street, London
EC2Y 8DS

Public transport
​​​​​​​The Barbican is widely accessible by bus, tube, train and by foot or bicycle. Plan your journey and find more route information in ‘Your Visit’ or book your car parking space in advance.