Víkingur ÓlafssonPiano
About This Performance
“People talk about classical music as being old. I think of it as being young,” tremendously popular Icelandic pianist Víkingur Ólafsson told the Financial Times. He has attracted enthusiastic audiences of all ages—both seasoned and new to classical music—through thrilling live performances and an ambitious array of award-winning recordings. This recital marks his return to SF Performances.
THE SHENSON PIANO SERIES
Program
GLASS: Opening (from Glassworks), Etude No 15
DEBUSSY: Ondine (Prelude No. 8 from Book II), “Serenade for the Doll” (from Children’s Corner), and Jardins Sous la Pluie (from Estampes)
RAMEAU: Selections from Suite No. 3 in D Major: Les tendres plaints, Les tourbillons, La Joyeuse, Les cyclopes and Selections from Suite No. 2 in E Minor: Le Rappel des Oiseaux, Rigaudons I, II & Double, Musette en Rondeaux, Tambourin
Performance Sponsors
Neil O’Donnell and Chris Motley
Artist Information
Performer Biography
Víkingur Ólafsson is one of the most celebrated classical artists of our time; a unique and visionary musician who brings his profound originality to some of the greatest works in music history. His recordings resonate deeply with audiences around the world, reaching over one billion streams and winning numerous awards including the 2025 Grammy® for Best Classical Instrumental Solo for his album of Bach’s Goldberg Variations, BBC Music Magazine Album of the Year, and Opus Klassik Solo Recording of the Year (twice). Other notable honours include the Royal Philharmonic Society Gold Medal, Rolf Schock Music Prize, Gramophone’s Artist of the Year, Musical America’s Instrumentalist of the Year, the Nordic Council Music Prize, the Order of the Falcon (Iceland’s order of chivalry) as well as the Icelandic Export Award, given by the President of Iceland.
November 2025 saw Ólafsson present his latest album, Opus 109, which places Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No. 30 Op. 109 at its heart. In an illuminating and thrilling musical dialogue with Schubert, J.S. Bach and other works by Beethoven, it traces the lineages that converge on this masterpiece of the piano literature. He toursed the anticipated new programme widely, bringing it to the greatest concert halls across Europe and North America.