The Heavenly Life Symphony with Barbara Hannigan

The Canadian soprano and conductor Barbara Hannigan is returning to Iceland once again, performing two concerts with the Iceland Symphony Orchestra, the first in Harpa on June 15, and the second at Hof in Akureyri on June 16. It is only a year since Barbara first performed in Iceland, when she came, saw, and conquered at the Reykjavik Arts Festival in the spring of 2022. A critic from Fréttablaðið wrote of the concert: "The interpretation was dreamy and poetic, a sublime feeling permeated throughout," and "the result was a rare delight."

The programme in June will feature three captivating compositions, in which Barbara Hannigan's lyricism and playfulness will be on display in equal measure, both in her singing and her conducting. Two of these are among the cornerstones of the symphonic repertorie; the so-called "Miracle" Symphony No. 96 by Joseph Haydn, and Symphony No. 4 by Gustav Mahler, named the "The Heavenly Life" Symphony, where Barbara sings the soprano part as well as leading the orchestra. Before the Mahler, a new and exciting work by Iranian composer Golfram Khayam receives its Icelandic premiere. Khayam enjoys a very successful career as acomposer, weaving together the threads of tradition with experimental elements. This short and improvisatory work is written for Hannigan, following her performance at a solidarity concert with the women of Iran. Haydn's Symphony No. 96 is one of the brilliant London Symphonies, epitomizing the composer's humor and perfect command of the orchestra. Mahler's Fourth Symphony is likewise in a category of its own – classical in form and accessible to listen to, but full of childlike sincerity, a love of nature, and a sense of the supernatural.

Barbara Hannigan has garnered great praise across the globe in recent years, for both her magnificent voice and her skills as a conductor. She has worked with all the major orchestras in the world and has premiered 85 new compositions, including ones by György Ligeti and Hans Abrahamsen. She has also sung in world's most renowned opera houses, appearing in parts such as the challenging title-role in Alban Berg's Lulu. Barbara Hannigan has won countless awards for her artistry, including a Grammy for her album Crazy Girl Crazy in 2018 and the prestigious Léonie Sonning Award in 2020. When she was awarded the Rolf Schock Award, the jury described her as "an extraordinary and innovative performer, with a dynamic and intensive approach to the music she performs.