News and Events
Smiles, some tears and pure appreciation at Ottawa concert
Jamie Davison wrote:
The sense of anticipation was palpable on May 23 as some 140 guests arrived at Ottawa’s First Unitarian Church to hear Iceland's acclaimed, young pianist, Víkingur Ólafsson. The backdrop of the church sanctuary opens to a forest of green; breaks in the trees reveal the mighty Ottawa River. Bird song drifted in and around and up to the vaulted ceiling. The scene was set.
Messages of welcome and introduction were given by Ottawa Friends of Iceland MC Sigurdur Sigurdson and Icelandic Ambassador to Canada, Markús Örn Antonsson. Hearts melted when tall, slendor Víkingur Ólafsson stepped onto the stage. His eyes swept the audience and he embraced us with a warm, gentle smile. Anticipatory applause filled the church as Víkingur took his place at the church’s new Steinway Grand.
Focussed and so masterfully, Víkingur launched into Bach’s 
French Suite No. 5 in G Major. The clarity of the contrapuntals was astonishing. The moods were clearly expressed – each character revealed: The playfulness; the delicious, slow movements; the rambunctious, merry jigs; all executed with delicacy and skill. The audience was spellbound. After rousing applause and then pulsing silence Víkingur began Beethoven’s Sonata Op. 57 in F Minor -“Appassionata”. Astounded with his technical prowess the audience experienced meaning through music. Víkingur brought the Sonata to life from start to finish.
The second half of the evening began with a Piano Suite composed by Víkingur’s father, Olafur Axelsson. For me the dance-like rhythms, intricate chords, and quiet evocative episodes expressed the love of a father for his dear child. Emotions ran high.
The program ended with Chopin’s Sonata #3 in B Minor, a selection filled with the tunefulness and lyrical melodies that delight us in Chopin. Each movement was treated with polish and love.
With smiles, some tears, and pure appreciation the audience answered Víkingur’s gift with thundering applause and a most spontaneous standing ovation. Graciously, Víkingur offered his arrangement of Ave Maria by the beloved Icelandic composer Sigvaldi Kaldalóns as an encore. Gentle – quiet – the music soothed the audience. It was a lovely ending to a most remarkable concert. Víkingur humbly stood at the end, bowed, gave a loving wave, and left the stage.
The guests enjoyed a generous reception sponsored by the Embassy of Iceland. It was an opportunity to greet friends old and new and most importantly, it was an opportunity to bask in the magic offered to us by Víkingur Ólafsson, a most gracious and immensely talented pianist.