Víkingur Ólafsson Plays Bach

Icelandic pianist Víkingur Ólafsson has made a profound impact with his remarkable combination of highest-level musicianship and visionary programs. His recordings for Deutsche Grammophon–Philip Glass Piano Works (2017), Johann Sebastian Bach (2018), Debussy Rameau (2020), Mozart & Contemporaries (2021), and From Afar (2022)–captured the public and critical imagination and have led to career streams of more than 600 million. 

In October 2023, Víkingur released his anticipated new album on Deutsche Grammophon of J.S. Bach’s Goldberg Variations. He has dedicated his entire 2023-24 Season to a Goldberg Variations world tour, performing the work across six continents throughout the year. He brings Bach’s masterpiece to major concert halls, including London’s Southbank Centre, New York’s Carnegie Hall, Wiener Konzerthaus, Philharmonie de Paris, Tokyo’s Suntory Hall, Harpa Concert Hall, Walt Disney Hall, Sala São Paulo, Shanghai Symphony Hall, Tonhalle Zürich, Philharmonie Berlin, Mupa Budapest, KKL Luzern, and Alte Oper Frankfurt, to name a few. 

Now one of today’s most sought-after artists, Víkingur’s multiple awards include Opus Klassik Instrumentalist of the Year (2023), Opus Klassik Solo Recording Instrumental (twice), CoScan’s International Nordic Person of the Year (2023), the Rolf Schock Prize for Music (2022), Gramophone’s Artist of the Year (2019), and Album of the Year at the BBC Music Magazine Awards (2019). 

A captivating communicator both on and off stage, Víkingur’s significant talent extends to broadcast, having presented several of his own series for television and radio. He was artist in residence for three months on BBC Radio 4’s flagship arts program, Front Row–broadcasting live during lockdown from an empty Harpa concert hall in Reykjavík and reaching millions of listeners around the world.