30. November 2012, 20.30
Anna Thorvaldsdottir (ISL)
Orchestronics - Audiovisuelle Komposition
Orchestronics
(english only)
Orchestronics is an electronic installation piece where contemporary orchestral music meets
electronic music, and video art. Composer Anna Thorvaldsdottir has constructed electronic
collages out of her written music for orchestra and made into a piece of unified audio–visual
experience. The music is accompanied by an abstract video art by the composer.
Orchestronics was premiered at the Reykjavik Arts Festival in May 2012 by the composer
herself. The duration of the entire piece is 45 minutes out of which the second half will be
performed here.
Anna Thorvaldsdottir
Anna Thorvaldsdottir is a prominent Icelandic composer who frequently works with large
structures of sounds, whether written for instrumental ensembles, soloists, voices, or
electronic mediums. Her music tends to portray a flowing world of sounds with an enigmatic
lyrical atmosphere. Her passion for working with large sound worlds, that often reveal the
presence of a vast variety of sustained sound materials, reflects her sense of imaginative
listening to landscapes and nature.
Anna’s music is frequently performed in Europe and in the US, and has been featured at several
major music festivals. Her works have been nominated and awarded on many occasions, for
example at the Icelandic Music Awards and the International Music Prize for Excellence in
Composition. Anna is the recipient of the Nordic Council Music Prize 2012 for her work
Dreaming for orchestra.
The Iceland Symphony Orchestra has premiered and recorded four of Anna's orchestra pieces,
conducted by Ilan Volkov, Christian Lindberg, Rumon Gamba, Daniel Bjarnason, and Bernhardur
Wilkinson. Her most recent piece for orchestra, “AERIALITY”, was commissioned by the Iceland
Symphony Orchestra and premiered in HARPA, the new award-winning Reykjavik Concert Hall,
in November 2011, conducted by Ilan Volkov. The noted Icelandic CAPUT Ensemble has also
premiered and recorded major works by Anna, conducted by Snorri Sigfus Birgisson.
Anna holds a PhD degree from the University of California in San Diego.
Anna’s debut portrait album - Rhízōma - was released in 2011 through Innova Recordings. The
album features three larger pieces for orchestra and chamber orchestra and five shorter
movements from a solo percussed piano work. The pieces are performed by the Iceland
Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Daniel Bjarnason, the Icelandic CAPUT Ensemble,
conducted by Snorri Sigfus Birgisson, and percussionist Justin DeHart. Rhízōma was selected
Classical/Contemporary Album of the Year at the Icelandic Music Awards 2012, and appeared on
a number of “Best of 2011” lists, e.g. at TimeOut New York and TimeOut Chicago.
http://www.annathorvalds.com
ALLGEMEIN PROGRAMM SUAL AWARD PRESSE IMPRESSUM SUAL HOME
shut up and listen! 2012
Interdisziplinäres Festival für Musik und Klangkunst
electronic music, and video art. Composer Anna Thorvaldsdottir has constructed electronic
collages out of her written music for orchestra and made into a piece of unified audio–visual
experience. The music is accompanied by an abstract video art by the composer.
Orchestronics was premiered at the Reykjavik Arts Festival in May 2012 by the composer
herself. The duration of the entire piece is 45 minutes out of which the second half will be
performed here.
Anna Thorvaldsdottir
Anna Thorvaldsdottir is a prominent Icelandic composer who frequently works with large
structures of sounds, whether written for instrumental ensembles, soloists, voices, or
electronic mediums. Her music tends to portray a flowing world of sounds with an enigmatic
lyrical atmosphere. Her passion for working with large sound worlds, that often reveal the
presence of a vast variety of sustained sound materials, reflects her sense of imaginative
listening to landscapes and nature.
Anna’s music is frequently performed in Europe and in the US, and has been featured at several
major music festivals. Her works have been nominated and awarded on many occasions, for
example at the Icelandic Music Awards and the International Music Prize for Excellence in
Composition. Anna is the recipient of the Nordic Council Music Prize 2012 for her work
Dreaming for orchestra.
The Iceland Symphony Orchestra has premiered and recorded four of Anna's orchestra pieces,
conducted by Ilan Volkov, Christian Lindberg, Rumon Gamba, Daniel Bjarnason, and Bernhardur
Wilkinson. Her most recent piece for orchestra, “AERIALITY”, was commissioned by the Iceland
Symphony Orchestra and premiered in HARPA, the new award-winning Reykjavik Concert Hall,
in November 2011, conducted by Ilan Volkov. The noted Icelandic CAPUT Ensemble has also
premiered and recorded major works by Anna, conducted by Snorri Sigfus Birgisson.
Anna holds a PhD degree from the University of California in San Diego.
Anna’s debut portrait album - Rhízōma - was released in 2011 through Innova Recordings. The
album features three larger pieces for orchestra and chamber orchestra and five shorter
movements from a solo percussed piano work. The pieces are performed by the Iceland
Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Daniel Bjarnason, the Icelandic CAPUT Ensemble,
conducted by Snorri Sigfus Birgisson, and percussionist Justin DeHart. Rhízōma was selected
Classical/Contemporary Album of the Year at the Icelandic Music Awards 2012, and appeared on
a number of “Best of 2011” lists, e.g. at TimeOut New York and TimeOut Chicago.
http://www.annathorvalds.com
ALLGEMEIN PROGRAMM SUAL AWARD PRESSE IMPRESSUM SUAL HOME
shut up and listen! 2012
Interdisziplinäres Festival für Musik und Klangkunst