Ep. 51: Víkingur Ólafsson - Part 1 - “Happy Birthday, Víkingur!”

Рет қаралды 1,430

Күн бұрын

Víkingur Ólafsson, Iceland's superstar pianist, engages in captivating dialogue in Part One of his interview on the Gould Standard. From Reykjavik to New York, Ólafsson delves into the profound influence of his Icelandic roots and reflects on his educational journey from early studies with his parents to Juilliard. The conversation unveils a multifaceted glimpse into his musical philosophy, exploring topics ranging from his insights into Bach's Goldberg Variations (which he has just recorded, and which he calls the greatest work of keyboard music ever written) to his nuanced views on music competitions. Ólafsson boldly contends that exceptional art should act as a catalyst for societal discourse, with the potential to overcome divisions, following in the footsteps of one of his inspirations, Glenn Gould.
Chapters:
00:00 Opening
01:09 Introducing Víkingur Ólafsson
02:46 Discussing Ólafsson's Newest Recording: Bach's Goldberg Variations
03:00 Ólafsson's Personal Connection to the Goldberg Variations
05:53 The Influence of Bach's Music on Later Composers
07:34 Ólafsson's Narrative Approach to the Goldberg Variations
31:35 On Iceland and Ólafsson's Musical Journey
38:12 The Importance of Individuality in Music
46:10 Thoughts on Music Competitions
52:28 The Lasting Legacy of Glenn Gould
54:28 Closing notes
Víkingur Ólafsson:
- Official Website: www.vikingurolafsson.com/
- Facebook: / vikingur.olafsson
- Instagram: vikingurola...
- X: / vikingurmusic
- KZfaq: / @vikingurolafsson
The Glenn Gould Foundation:
- www.glenngould.ca
- / the-glenn-gould-founda...
- / @theglenngouldfoundation
- / theglenngouldfoundation
- / glenngouldfndn
- / the-glenn-gould-founda...
- Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/3E4NjSP...
- Podcast: pod.link/thegouldstandard

Пікірлер: 10

@edromani4685 Ай бұрын

I saw play Vikingur here in Los Angeles last month. ABSOLUTELY OUT OF THIS WORLD. He is such a great player and humble, he signed my vinyl after the concert. Definitely the highlight of this 2024 for me. Thank you Vikingur.

@BrianLevine-ku1xf Ай бұрын

Hi Ed, I heard Vikingur in Toronto, and his Goldbergs bear the stamp of a master - personal, intimate, virtuosic, tender and passionate. Vikingur is always on a journey of exploration and it's mind-expanding to take the trip with him!

@88_AC 28 күн бұрын

Enjoying this very much. Would love it if you could speak with Anton Kuerti if possible.

@gavinsvideos7526 Ай бұрын

I just stumbled across your KZfaq channel. Thanks so much for it! However, I was disappointed to not hear "dance" mentioned when you listed the interests of the people who would enjoy your channel. I am not Canadian, but I know that Canada has some great ballet companies, including the Royal Winnipeg Ballet.

@hurricane_hazel 5 ай бұрын

Great interview. I love that you finally have a guest who has the ability to bring the conversation around to Gould. Also, a stellar Alfred Brendel impersonation. 🤣

@BrianLevine-ku1xf 5 ай бұрын

Hi Hazel - thank you for your kind words and support for the Gould Standard. We had a terrific time speaking with Vikingur - he is and extremely thoughtful and passionate advocate for the repertoire he performs. I agree - the Brendel impersonation was a hoot! As for more GG content, stay tuned; we have some amazing episodes coming up soon. Also, please do subscribe!

@5kyfall2017 5 ай бұрын

Amazing interview. I found the discussion around 40:00 intriguing. Artists should build their own path rather than the record labels. Don't feel forced to do something you don't enjoy. For example, hundreds of thousands of musicians want to become the top pianist or violinist and so on, but in reality this is mostly impossible. Find your own ways of enjoying music without pressure, whether it be working for a record label, concert venues, or even writing reviews.

@BrianLevine-ku1xf 5 ай бұрын

Hi Sky, Thank you for your kind words and astute observations. The ideal relationship between musicians and their labels should be based on mutual trust and respect - respect for the artist's unique vision and musical sympathies. Following the artist's lead results in more memorable recordings, which ultimately should be good for the labels. Vikingur is the kind of artist who proves that following your own muse pays rich musical dividends.