Enigma Variations

Edward Elgar's Enigma Variations, one of the most beloved symphonic compositions ever to emerge from the British Isles, brought the composer international recognition when it was premiered in 1900. The piece consists of fourteen variations, each of which sketches a musical picture of the composer's friends, acquaintances, his wife, and, finally, himself. The music ranges from the playfully humorous to the deeply passionate. The theme on which all the variations are based is never actually presented in the piece – an enigma worthy of the name.

This concert features the season's second appearance by artist-in-residence Leila Josefowicz. This time she brings us Helen Grime's bracingly fresh Violin Concerto, composed in 2016. Grime is one of Britain's most successful young composers. Her works have been lauded for their spellbinding spirit and unique creativity. "I am particularly excited to premiere Helen Grime's Violin Concerto in Iceland," says Leila Josefowicz. "The piece bubbles with a visceral energy as well as with something mystical and heavenly. There are few new compositions that are as enjoyable to perform for people." The first piece on the concert is Ballade in A minor by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, a contemporary of Elgar's. It is an energetic and lively piece, full of vivid emotions despite being small in scale.