Víkingur Ólafsson

Icelandic pianist Víkingur Ólafsson is one of the most acclaimed soloists in the world of classical music. He has a warm approach and passionate musicality, and draws a massive audience, with 2.6 million listens on Spotify – per month – and albums that sell in huge editions. 

Víkingur Ólafsson has been celebrated for his interpretations of Rameau, Mozart, and works by American minimalist Philip Glass, among others. When he performed at Konserthuset Stockholm in spring 2022, with the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, he played John Adams’ piano concerto Must the Devil Have All the Good Tunes?

But the particular focus for Víkingur Ólafsson’s performance here is the music of Johann Sebastian Bach. At his first recital in Konserthuset, he plays the famous Goldberg Variations, music that many associate with Canadian pianist Glenn Gould, who has a cult following. With his deeply personal interpretations of Bach’s music, it is perhaps no surprise that the New York Times described Víkingur Ólafsson as “Iceland’s Glenn Gould”.