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Nærmynd: Iceland Symphony Orchestra x Hildur Guðnadóttir

music by Saariaho, Sakamoto, Pärt, Lucier, Levi and Guðnadóttir

Copyright information:Eygló Gísla

Hildur Guðnadóttir (Reykjavik, 1982) is actively making history as one of the most acclaimed (film) composers of her generation. Her music is characterised by an enchanting blend of ambient drone (continuous tones or sound fields underlying a piece of music) and contemporary classical elements. In 2026 is Hildur Guðnadóttir associate artist of the Holland Festival.


Iceland Symphony Orchestra, founded in 1950 and celebrated during BBC Proms, in Carnegie Hall and at the Musikverein in Vienna, performs the music of their fellow Icelander for the first time.


In Nærmynd ('Close-up') Guðnadóttir will perform selections from her award-winning film scores: the spine-chilling intensity of Joker, the subliminal subtleties of TÁR and the ensemble of strings that painted love, distrust, and chaos lurking in the shadows in A Haunting in Venice. These are joined by concert works and two new compositions written by Guðnadóttir especially for this occasion, alongside pieces by artists who inspired her, including Arvo Pärt, Ryuichi Sakamoto (Holland Festival associate artist in 2021), Mica Levi, Kaija Saariaho, and Alvin Lucier.


Nærmynd will be conducted by Daníel Bjarnason, one of Iceland’s leading conductors and composers, returning to the Holland Festival after the world premiere of his composition We Came in Peace for All Mankind in 2018 as part of the Holland Festival Proms.  


'Listening plays a huge role in cultivating empathy. To truly listen and hear, you first have to be silent within

yourself. Cultivating empathy means being aware enough to quiet your own thoughts and to consider the perceptions and situations of others. Art, music, and film are fantastic ways to guide people toward listening to different perspectives, different stories, and different ways of perceiving the world.'


Read the music programme note of Naermynd and the interview with Hildur Guðnadóttir.


Programme


Hildur Guðnadóttir

Blind Sarabande (2026)

commisioned by the Holland Festival and Icelanc Symphony Orchestra


Hildur Guðnadóttir

Overcast (2026)


Hildur Guðnadóttir tells about the programme


Alvin Lucier 

Silver Streetcar for the Orchestra (solo triangle Sam Slater) (1988)


Hildur Guðnadóttir

The Song That Never Was (2026)

commisioned by the Holland Festival and Icelanc Symphony Orchestra


Kaija Saariaho

Nymphéa Reflection: II. Feroce (2001)


Ryuichi Sakamoto

main theme from: The Revenant (2015)


Hildur Guðnadóttir 

Allegro from: Tár (2022)


intermission


Hildur Guðnadóttir

Confession from: Haunting in Venice (2023)

Pipes from: Haunting in Venice (2023)


Hildur Guðnadóttir tells about the programme


Arvo Pärt

Fratres (1977)


Mica Levi

Love from: Under the Skin (2014)


Hildur Guðnadóttir

Meeting Bruce Wayne from: Joker (2019)

Bathroom Dance from: Joker (2019)


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dates

Mon June 15 8:15 PM

prices

  • default from € 31
  • CJP € 25
  • HF Young from € 24,75
  • youth under 18 € 21

information

  • 2 hours (met 1 pauze)

  • all prices are including drink
introduction

at 7:15-7:45, moderator Frederike Berntsen speaks with Hildur Guðnadóttir and Daníel Bjarnason (in English). 

more info
  • Iceland Symphony Orchestra

  • Eygló Gísla

Credits

music Kaija Saariaho, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Arvo Pärt, Alvin Lucier, Mica Levi, Hildur Guðnadóttir musical direction Daníel Bjarnason cello Hildur Guðnadóttir, Steiney Sigurðardóttir, Sigurður Bjarki Gunnarsson, Margrét Árnadóttir, Bryndís Björgvinsdóttir, Urh Mrak, Guðný Jónasdóttir triangle Sam Slater orchestra Iceland Symphony Orchestra first violin Sigrun Edvaldsdottir (concertmeester), Una Sveinbjarnardóttir, Zbigniew Dubik, Laufey Jensdóttir, Joanna Bauer, Pálína Árnadóttir, Hildigunnur Halldorsdottir, Bryndís Pálsdóttir, Emma Garðarsdóttir, Sigrún Harðardóttir, Margrét Kristjánsdóttir, Olga Björk Ólafsdóttir second violin Gunnhildur Daðadóttir, Sólveig Steinþórsdóttir, Hekla Finnsdóttir, Ingrid Karlsdóttir, Sólrún Ylfa Ingimarsdóttir, Kristján Matthíasson, Ólöf Þorvarðsdóttir, Justyna Bidler, Margrét Þorsteinsdóttir, Þórdís Stross Þórunn Osk Marinósdóttir, Þórarinn Már Baldursson, Herdís Anna Jónsdóttir, Guðrún Þórarinsdóttir, Svava Bernharðsdóttir, Guðbjartur Hákonarson, Anna Elísabet Sigurðardóttir, Guðrún Hrund Harðardóttir contrabas T.C. Fitzgerald, Richard Korn, Jacek Karwan, Hávarður Tryggvason flute Rafael Adobas, Áshildur Haraldsdóttir oboe Julia Hantschel, Matthías Nardeau klarinet Grímur Helgason, Rúnar Óskarsson hoorn Stefán Jón Bernharðsson, Joseph Ognibene keyboards Liam Kaplan, Sam Slater percussion Marco Santos, Frank Aarnink electronics Sam Slater production Iceland Symphony Orchestra photography Eygló Gísla

This performance is made possible by