Director Baltasar Kormákur, who’s forged a comfortable career toggling between Hollywood tales set in far-flung spots and films set in his native Iceland, returns to his home country for the sweet/sad love story “Touch,” only to continent-hop again within its two-hour running time. Egill Ólafsson in the movie “Touch.” Cue Swinging ’60s London, where we’re introduced to young Kristofer — …
Víkingur Ólafsson: Tiny Desk Concert Top-tier concert pianists commonly perform on nine-foot grand pianos. Bach's Goldberg Variations is "an encyclopedia of how you can think and dream on the keyboard," Ólafsson says, after opening with the work's featherlight Aria and vigorous first variation. And Ólafsson closes with another personal arrangement, "Ave María," something close to Iceland's national prayer. 1 Jean-Philippe …
The 10 Best Classical Albums of 2022 Enlarge this image toggle caption Photo illustration: Jackie Lay/NPR / Photo: Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images Photo illustration: Jackie Lay/NPR / Photo: Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images As many Americans step out and reconnect to a version of what their musical lives were before the pandemic, I remain, stubbornly, at home. YouTube Jóhann Jóhannsson Drone Mass For …
Víkingur Ólafsson Wants To Change Your Mind About Mozart Enlarge this image toggle caption Ari Magg/Deutsche Grammophon Ari Magg/Deutsche Grammophon When Víkingur Ólafsson was 8 years old, he threw a tantrum over Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Ólafsson has included the popular sonata on Mozart & Contemporaries, a new album that aims to dispel myths about the famous composer while shedding light …
