"Saying Bach is too mathematical 'is like someone telling me that nature isn't beautiful.' I feel bad for them if they see no beauty, if they hear no beauty."
"It helps that I have a very good relationship with [John Adams] and consider him a dear friend, and an ally. He created a world for me to inhabit very freely."
"The instability of Iceland, with earthquakes, volcanoes, and glaciers, influences my playing. The constant changes in nature and weather shape my musical expression."
Vikingur Ólafsson, an acclaimed Icelandic pianist, recently performed in the Bay Area, showcasing his talent with a new John Adams concerto and Bach's Goldberg Variations. He values his personal relationship with Adams, who crafted a concerto tailored for Ólafsson. He defends Bach against critics who label his music as overly mathematical, expressing that such views reflect a lack of appreciation for beauty. Ólafsson also notes that growing up in Iceland, with its dynamic natural environment, has influenced his musical expression and approach to performance.
Read at Kqed
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