The Icelandic virtuoso makes his Santa Barbara debut performing works by Galuppi, Mozart, C.P.E. Bach, Haydn and Cimarosa
SUMMARY
- UCSB Arts & Lectures presents Víkingur Ólafsson.
- Thursday, May 11 | 7 p.m. | Hahn Hall
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- The renowned Icelandic pianist will perform a daring collection of obscure works from Mozart, Haydn, and other contemporaries
- Santa Barbara debut
- No late seating
- Please note: Hahn Hall is located at the Music Academy
- $35 General Public / $10 UCSB Students (Current student ID required)(Includes facility fee)
- Tickets & Info: www.ArtsAndLectures.UCSB.edu, (805) 893-3535
An “outright sensation… the playing was transfixing.” — Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times
SANTA BARBARA — UCSB Arts & Lectures (A&L) presents Víkingur Ólafsson on Thursday, May 11 at 7 p.m at Hahn Hall. Icelandic virtuoso Víkingur Ólafsson combines out-of-this-world musicianship with an unusual gift for programming. His concerts are carefully calibrated compositions; each segment comments on those that come before and after. At Hahn Hall, Ólafsson will perform a Mozart & Contemporaries program that sheds light on lesser-known figures such as Domenico Cimarosa and Baldassare Galuppi and illuminates obscure, daring works by Mozart and Haydn. This intimate recital offers a rare opportunity to explore unheard depths and connections among music’s greatest composers.
Víkingur Ólafsson describes his experiences with the music of Mozart
ABOUT VÍKINGUR ÓLAFSSON
Icelandic pianist Víkingur Ólafsson has made a profound impact with his remarkable combination of highest level musicianship and visionary programmes. 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 over 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 performs with orchestras including Philharmonia Orchestra, Concertgebouworkest, Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, Berliner Philharmoniker, The Cleveland Orchestra, London and Bergen philharmonic orchestras, Toronto 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 programme, Front Row – broadcasting live during lockdown from an empty Harpa concert hall in Reykjavík, he reached millions of listeners around the world.
ABOUT UCSB ARTS & LECTURES
Founded in 1959, UCSB Arts & Lectures (A&L) is the largest and most influential arts and lectures organization between Los Angeles and San Francisco. A&L annually presents more than a hundred public events, from critically acclaimed concerts and dance performances by world-renowned artists to talks by groundbreaking authors and film series at UCSB and Santa Barbara-area venues. With a mission to “educate, entertain and inspire,” A&L also oversees an outreach program that brings visiting artists and speakers into local classrooms and other venues for master classes, open rehearsals, discussions and more, serving K-12 students, college students and the general public.
Víkingur Ólafsson is presented by UCSB Arts & Lectures. Tickets are $35 General Public / $10 UCSB Students (Includes facility fee) (Current student ID required)
For tickets or more information, call UCSB Arts & Lectures at (805) 893-3535 or purchase online at www.ArtsAndLectures.UCSB.edu.
UCSB Arts & Lectures gratefully acknowledges our Community Partners the Natalie Orfalea Foundation & Lou Buglioli for their generous support of the 2022-2023 season.
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Press photos are available upon request. Contact Arts & Lectures Senior Writer / Publicist Charles Donelan, charles.donelan@artsandlectures.ucsb.edu or WaveComm’s Chris Davis, chris@wavecommsb.com.