A concert coming up in Norðurljós, Harpa!
Ensemble Promena is a newly founded ensemble that specialises in performing late classical and romantic repertoire on historical instruments. Each project sees the ensemble vary in size from duo to small chamber orchestra, for its Icelandic debut it will appear as a string quartet together with soprano Herdís Anna Jónasdóttir. Tickets can be bought here
Aribert Reimann (b. 1936), one of Germany’s best-known living composers, has arranged many works from the German vocal repertoire for voice and chamber ensembles of different sizes. This concert presents the Icelandic premiere of his arrangements of Robert Schumann’s 6 Gesänge, op. 107 as well as of Mendelssohn’s ,,…oder soll es Tod bedeuten?”, in which he binds 8 of the composer’s Lieder together with his own modern-sounding Intermezzi for string quartet.
As a contrast to the dramatic songs and the modern sounds of Reimann’s music Ensemble Promena will perform the bright and rhythmic string quartet op. 67 by Johannes Brahms. His third and last string quartet, which was the composer’s favourite, this will be the first time that it is performed on historical instruments in Iceland.
Herdís Anna Jónasdóttir, soprano
Elfa Rún Kristinsdóttir, violin
Laufey Jensdóttir, violin
Simone von Rahden, viola
Vladimir Waltham, cello