Pianist Víkingur Ólafsson has made a profound impact with his remarkable combination of high-level musicianship and visionary programs. His recordings for Deutsche Grammophon — Philip Glass: Piano Works (2017), Johann Sebastian Bach (2018), Debussy: Rameau (2020) and “Mozart & Contemporaries” (2021) — captured the public and critical imagination and led to more than 260 million album streams. The Daily Telegraph called him “the new superstar of classical piano,” while the New York Times dubbed him “Iceland’s Glenn Gould.”
One of today’s most sought-after artists, Ólafsson has won multiple awards, including Gramophone magazine’s 2019 Artist of the Year, Opus Klassik Solo Recording Instrumental (twice) and Album of the Year at the 2019 BBC Music Magazine Awards.
Ólafsson continues to perform with the world’s leading orchestras and as artist in residence at the top concert halls and festivals. He also works with some of today’s greatest composers.
A captivating communicator both on and off stage, Ólafsson also is a broadcast host, 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, he reached millions of listeners worldwide.
