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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 11 ส.ค. 2020
- The Tiny Desk is working from home for the foreseeable future. Introducing NPR Music's Tiny Desk (home) concerts, bringing you performances from across the country and the world. It's the same spirit - stripped-down sets, an intimate setting - just a different space.
Aug. 12, 2020 | Tom Huizenga -- "I hope everybody stays safe and is good to each other," Víkingur Ólafsson says at the end of this beautiful four-song set.
Before he packed his final bags to return to his native Iceland, the pianist gave one last performance from his home in Berlin. His career has moved from strength to strength, releasing three terrific albums in a row (Philip Glass, J.S. Bach, Debussy-Rameau). And now that he has a young son, he wants to spend as much time with the family as possible these days.
After grounding us in the resilient music of Bach, Ólafsson offers a crash course in the fascinating music of Jean-Philippe Rameau and Claude Debussy, two French composers who lived nearly 200 years apart. Ólafsson connects the dots between the two seemingly strange bedfellows, illustrating his points with demonstrations on his Steinway.
Ólafsson has penchant for making transcriptions, taking pieces written for other instruments and making them his own. He closes with "The Arts and the Hours," his mesmerizing arrangement of a scene from Rameau's final opera, which he plays as a farewell to his Berlin apartment.
SET LIST
J.S. Bach (arr. Stradal): "Andante" (from Organ Sonata No. 4)
Rameau: "Le rappel des oiseaux"
Debussy: "The Snow is Dancing" (from Children's Corner)
Rameau (arr. Ólafsson): "The Arts and the Hours" (from Les Boréades)
MUSICIANS
Víkingur Ólafsson: piano
CREDITS
Video by: Anusch Alimirzaie; Audio by: Anusch Alimirzaie; Producer: Tom Huizenga; Audio Mastering Engineer: Josh Rogosin; Video Producer: Morgan Noelle Smith; Executive Producer: Lauren Onkey; Senior VP, Programming: Anya Grundmann - เพลง
This dude plays Bach so well that I want to be his next door neighbour so I can be bothered with his training
Best comment my dream too !
Lying in bed shouting requests.
Yeah, would love to hear him practice!
When the Bothering Neighbour, became the Dayream Lifehood~
There was an opera singer that I could hear from the below floor, sad that i moved!
Anyone on the planet with an internet connection can hear this and weep. Incredible.
I totally agree with all those comments, especially about his Rameau and Bach interpretations…
He is a gift to the world ….a treasure…
The purity of the piano, unaccompanied, played well and written and performed by geniuses is wondrous.
This man is absolutely incredible. He imparts such a kindness and sense of humanity to whatever he plays. On the last piece I could not help but cry. What a gift to the world he is.
Saw him in concert live and yes, he makes us cry because he plays SO beautifully! 😭 Too lovely!!!
You describe perfectly Mr. Olafsson"s work. In the last piece, I ,too, was all but sobbing. The piece evokes the passage of time and the evanescence of life's moments and memories.
Dear Víkingur Ólafsson, all the months of pandemie are the outer reality - in the inner world e.g. it is your Bach, Glass, Rameau ... that puts into reality a world of brightness, light, tenderness; your sound is like dew drops, hovering ... thank you very much.
It is great music, it comforts the soul, stay strong, greetings from the Netherlands
How poetically you’ve expressed those sentiments Brigitte, I’m sure they are shared by many of us.
Brigitte, your comment is really perfect. This wonderful man is a treasure. I hope one day to see him play. Love to you from Ireland!
Isn’t Ólafsson a treat? I “discovered” him in Barcelona by accident in 2019 (I rolled the dice on some $20 tickets for the little theater at the Palau de la Música Catalana) and have been smitten ever since. Glad viewers have a chance to hear him speak as well, as he introduces each song. He’s a classically lovely, humble, thinky music nerd, and he really knows his stuff.
A fantastic looking venue like Palau de la Musica Catalane & Olafson playing, lucky you!
That singing tone. Lovely. I'm glad to have found him here.
The Palau de la musica is not only an incredible music venue, but a work of Art Deco both inside and and outside. I have enjoyed some lovely performances in this most beautiful of venues.🌞🙏🌞
Similar to me. Toronto Symphony Orchestra was having a sale in early 2018 so I bought a ticket. He was billed as an Icelandic Glenn Gould. I like Iceland, and GG, so why not? As soon as he walked on the stage I liked him. And then he played and mind. Blown. He played fellow countryman's Daniel Bjarnasson's Processions piano concerto; really cool piece of music.
I "discovered" him through the movie "Ündine"..the Bach Adagio transcription of Marcello's D-minor oboe concerto.....
Now i'm a fan
This guy is pure gold.
What can you say about this? A few moments in the presence of genius. What a fabulous performance :-)
I so agree with you - Bach always makes things better, whether you're feeling happy or sad.
The range of musical genres you span with tiny desk is refreshing. I've discovered so many pieces I can enjoy, from reggae to classical, indie to jazz. Thank you for your work!
Hi philaee, can you point me to good reggae that you discovered? Thanks!
@Traktori Entertainment smiff N wessun is not reggae, they are hip hop. They may have reggae songs but are far from being reggae artists
Every second of this is a marvel, when he talks, sways, plays... So moving and so humbling 🙂
My favourite artist. Ethereal Bach with bell - like clarity. I hope to see him live.
His is the best version of this piece. Wish I could see his fingers for the ornamentation toward the end. I absolutely cannot figure out how/what he’s doing there. Sounds amazing.
I love his talk about the Rameau piece. Grateful I am here to experience it.
Víkingur Ólafsson brings oxygen to the lungs and a fresh of breath air in such a devastating time in life ... Just musicians that make life worth living and view the World with a hopefulness that goodwill prevail. Jean-Philippe Râmeau, Claude Debussy and many others we should be proud to have in our French arsenal of brilliant composers. Víkingur Ólafsson, you play with great passion and your style is divine. Þakka þér fyrir Víkingur Ólafsson ....
The furniture reflection on the piano side adds dimention to the take, well done.
Great artist, generous and kind, thanks very much Víkingur.
Had the tremendous pleasure of doing the grieg with him. Amazing pianist with a restraint in gesture that belies his sincerity
An island of peace and love to escape to. Thank you so much! Many blessings to you and your family in Iceland!
I have been a Bach addict since I was a kid - but your interpretation and arrangements brings on a totally different deep meaning I can’t help but get goosebumps and teary when I listen to you play - hopefully one day will be able to attend one of your love concerts - I am across the pond now but you never know . Thank you for sharing your immense music journey with the world !
What a superb artist and great human being. We are all blessed to have his music in our lives.
This is one of my favorite Tiny Desk concerts. The performance by Mr. Olafsson was sublime and the pieces were beautiful. Now I must go and find some of his albums to buy.
The more beauty and joy that pours into the world the better, and that is what Tiny desk does. Thank you.
not for me it didnt
Vikingur introduced me to Rameau and since then I became an "addict' to his music. When he describes Rameau as the "Newton for Music" is a perfect analogy. Also, to put together Rameau and Debussy under the same program is simply beyond perfection. The format for the Tiny Desk (Home) is so intimate and perfect to get to feel the marrow of the artist. Thanks, NPR.
I never realized that Rameau was a contemporary of Bach, I thought he was from a much later time.
Rameau is in my top 5.
I have been a fan of Víkingur Ólafsson for a couple years now. He has done some of my favorite interpretations of Bach and Debussy, and I have listened to his Bach, Brahms, Rameau-Debussy, and Bach Reworks albums dozens of times and I still come back to them time and time again. Especially with his arrangements, he just finds ways to make Baroque or Romantic era music feel modern or new. It was such a pleasure to hear him demonstrate a little bit of his process and explain these pieces I've heard dozens of times before. It's truly a testament to his artistry!
Absolutely gorgeous playing- wonderful insights into each piece - love the Rameau/ Debussy connection
I want to like this many many many times. Love that NPR includes classical music!!!
Dude was playing Baroque and Impressionist music, not Classical.
Don’t worry - I am referring to genre not era ;)
He’s my very favorite baroque interpreter we neede some fresh awareness of the many different approaches to Bach Rameau & really all of or past & look to future ways of rethinking Times require alternate wage of aririving at the same doorwayBach.was the forerunner of every composer, egdminor prelude bk 1 put the pedaldown & we have Debussy , I could go on try finding examples. Of his Prokofiev it’s everywhere!
I'm so glad I found this gem.
Like directing with a feather! Who says Bach is not new? Bravo to this genius!
I’m still crying. Bravo. The voice of god in his hands
Víkingur Ólafsson
You are extraordinary !
I wish all young people would be polite and talented like you !
The world would be a paradise !
The arts and hours by Vikingur sometimes makes you fade away into eternity
Absolute purity. I see the cathedrals of Mainz and feel the air of the Rhein in his performance.
Bach in a new light , under the magical hands of Vikingur Olafsson -simply stelar performance ! I could stay hours, days, months, to listen over and over ..
He nails the Rameau at the end, too. The most perfect performance I've ever heard.
his baroque music is special- very emotional, imagery but still minimal. that's why he can play bach, rameau with the similar mood of debussy. i love his renditions so much
I wanted just say thank you. Just thank you.
I'm on the subway heading for home after work. This guy's playing Bach makes me relaxed.
I'm happy now
Whatelse~?!
I really hope to see his concert in Seoul ,SouthKorea. After this sad and dark days. I will work hard till the day I could buy his ticket.
Music history lessons while enjoying the heartbeat of the piano. Magnificent! Thank you!
The last Rameau has me in tears
Vikingur's real talent is to make these transcriptions of the music Bach sound as though it is easy music to play. I am sure it is a matter of timing and dynamics. Whenever I play them they never carry the same clarity and conviction.
Vikingur is the most proper example of being a medium to transfer divine music in every moment to the mankind, owing to brilliant technique of playing and outstanding musicality, both perfectly incorporated in unique person. Because music is nothing but cosmic order transfigured into frequencies available to be matched by people chosen to discover the secrets of existance in the universe.
The excitement and emotion he plays with absolutely amaze me. He is just incredible.
Bravo Víkingur. Bravo Tiny Desk .
It's good the hear Bach played in a contemplative but fresh voice.
What an incredible beautiful lullaby at the end.... have a nice time in Iceland!
The talks with this magical playing is so important. This TDC is a pure pleasure that I so much appreciate. Thank you.
Thank you, Vikingur Ólafsson, for providing a window on to your existence inside sublime, timeless music. There is nothing truer or more beautiful, and it is part of all the most meaningful things in life.
Yes, absolutely!
What a distinctive and brilliant pianist. I'd never heard of him.
What a gift. Thank you so much for sharing, and save travels back to your beautiful homeland
Thank you, NPR, for producing such excellent programs.
Superb pianist and very gifted musician! I can listen to his music during hours! He brings me to heaven
Wonderful, Vikingur! Thank you so much for sharing with us your art!
Lindo! Maravilhoso! Muito sensível ao espírito. Harmonia que transcende ao Divino. Gratidão.
Omg my favourite modern pianist AND npr tiny desk wowww
All the tension from all this coronavirus fear horror is melting now. You are allowing all the frozen fear to melt and come out of my eyes as tears of relief. Thank you young man for being balm for our tired souls.
Thanks Vikingur for this tiny great musical moment
Perfection and total tranquillity. Thank you, Vikingur.
I’m blown away by every piece of music he plays. He transports you to a place where time doesn’t exist. Marvelous.
Quite wonderful comments about the music he is playing!
Thanks Tiny desk for this. Wonderfull musician! What a pleasure to hear bach here.
Thanks so much for watching!
Simone Dinnerstein, Hilary Hahn, Bridget Kibbey, Paul Jacobs and Yo Yo Ma are others who have played Bach on tiny desk :)
Thank you for sharing a special farewell with all this incredible music. Iceland is lucky :)
When he was talking about "le rappel des oiseaux" the birds in my backyard DEADASS started singing... loved the timing
Welcome to the matrix, you are connected.
I love his recordings! His playing is ethereal, transparent, fresh, humble and heartfelt! Thanks NPR Music for inviting such a distinguished musician to your channel and thus sharing this timely approach to classical music.
NPR Music, your entire team and all classical guests, I have only one thing to say: I thank you all and love you all. 💖🎹🎶🌷🌷🌷 (Holland)
Bravo! Great music!!
I loved this so much. The artistry of his music and the stories about the composers and his connection to the pieces. Just wonderful
This helps. Thank you, NPR!
Thanks for watching!
The Bach was sublime - thank you! Fantastic playing- enjoy being with your family.
NPR tiny desk always bringing the awesome music!
Just hearing now, but still in the after effects of what we've been through. Profound performance. Left me with a new appreciation of Rameau but always an ongoing awe of Bach. Thank you, Vikingur!
That's refreshing, something clear & pure.
I never have that much pleasure listening to Rameau since Angela Hewitt's keyboard suite album. Thank you!
Saw him live in Hamburg. He is brilliant
I'm loving the enthusiastic explanations of the pieces he's playing
Lovely! Thank you for the incredible performances!
A wonderful performance by Vikingur Ólafsson - thank you for your mastery and enjoyment of what you play.
Just the ticket. Deep joy, bliss and warmest thanks.🌞🙏🌞2020
Thank you, your playing sounds like a meditation taking one through multiple spheres and varied landscapes. Perhaps the extraordinary landscapes of Iceland, the feeling of danger and its feeling of distinct aloofness has created a such an extraordinary interpreter of genius and wholesomeness. I very much look forward to hearing your playing after your return home.
Thank you for this gem of a Tiny Desk. The music was a delight -- sound as delicate and intricate lace. Equally delightful was Mr. Olafsson's comments which imbued the whole 25:43 minutes with love.
Beyond words. I am transported to another realm when listening to Ólafsson, especially his Bach. Will never forget hearing him for the first time in 2018. Thank you for this performance!
Thank you Tiny Desk; love all your presentations but especially the classical presentations.
He has a most beautiful touch.
Wonderful. Great talent ! Rameau lives!
Thank you so much for playing and explaining this exquisite music. You SAVED. My day.
I'm really enjoying these home sessions! It's like a mini masterclass and it gives so much more insight into the music
What an artist you are!! I Just Love evry album of yours
Excellent playing, incisive analyses, and thank you for bringing attention to the baroque in Debussy and the romantic in Rameau. Loving the quality of the tiny desk concerts. Keep them coming please!
You, sir, are amazing!
Loved the comments on that jaw-dropping Rameau "Le rappel des oiseaux"
like water rushing over stones...pristine playing.
The reflection caused the strangest illusion for me at first. I thought he was playing a tiny piano from afar hahaha. Beautiful none the less!
Exactly. I thought - he's playing a weird upright or ?? With weird carvings? Man that looks like a.... chair! Lol
Very nicely recorded, loved the sound and the playing.Its great to see Vikingur play on his own piano, and his understanding he has of its particular characteristics.
My recommendation would be to lift the camera by a few feet, so we can see the keys! Truly sublime though, for sure.
A favorite pianist! Thank you!
Watching this, I miss my time living in Berlin. It is a wonderful concert and introductions. I really appreciate the artistry he has offered us, some light during these dark days. You can see the depth of his musical, and historical, understanding here as well. Vikingur has a new fan. Thank you, NPR.
Thank you for putting on this farewell concert for us, was truly and emotional experience for me. I adored the commentary as well. Wishing you the best in Iceland! 🇮🇸
love his explanations. and of course the performance! first tune is played with perfect interpretation
This was spectacular. Thank you for covering the classical music genre.
You get so many great artists: thanks for all your work.
i really love your play and interpretation. thank you for beautiful concert!
Very talented!