Our spring recital

Less than a week now...

"Loftkastali" and "Bráð" workshop

Photo taken by Friðþjófur Þorsteinsson at the first workshop for Bráð, 

design-led-musical-theater-piece, 22.04.13 @Guildhall, School of Music and Drama, London. 

(from left). Helgi R. Ingvarsson, composer / conductor - Ching Man-Ho on harp - Andrew James Power on cello - Caoimhe de Paor on recorders - Joy Boole on clarinet - Ruth Hardwick on bassoon - Iurii Gavryliuk on double bass - Rannveig Káradóttir, soprano.

Guðný Jónasdóttir, cellist. Photo taken by me May 1st, as we workshoped my new piece Loftkastali (castle in air) for solo cello. It was a lovely day full of interesting talks, music and sunbathing in between. Guðný will premiere the music at her final recital in Royal Academy of Music in London in June this year. In fact, I just sent her the final edit of the piece and I´m very excited to hear her lovely interpretation.

This is an older photo, taken at the first workshop with Guðný in Jan. or Feb. this year.

Choir Festival Videos

The videos from the Icelandic-Choirs-in-Europe festival have been published. There you can see me conducting my dear friends in the London choir on the 13th of April this year in the Cathedral in Lund, Sweden. 

Öfugmælavísur

Stefán S. Stefánsson. 

Raddsetning: Hróðmar I. Sigurbjörnsson

Hættu að gráta hringaná

Íslenskt þjóðlag

Útsetning: Hafliði Hallgrímsson

Kata litla í koti

Sigvaldi S. Kaldalóns

Útsetning: Hildigunnur Rúnarsdóttir

And finally, I got the chance to conduct the United Icelandic Choirs of Europe. That was quite a thrill.

Björt mey og hrein

Íslenskt þjóðlag

Raddsetning: Róbert A. Ottósson

"Bráð" for theater

Tonight me and Friðþjófur (Fiffi) have the 1st rehearsal for our new theater version of the music for "Bráð" ("Soon"?), about the decline of Snæfellsjökull-glacier (http://helgiingvarsson.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/bra-and-bbcso.html). 

I for one cant wait to hear our 7 piece ensemble and soprano have a go at the music. Awesome people like Jessica Kabirat (fl.), Caoimhe de Paor (rec.), Joy Boole (cl.), Ruth Hardwick (bassoon), Ching Man Ho Judy (harp), Andrew Power (vc.), Iurii Gavryliuk (db.) and Rannveig Káradóttir (sopr.). See you all at the premiere in the end of May.

Choir festival in Lund, Sweden

Last weekend, 12th-14th of April I went on a trip with my lovely choir to Lund, Sweden where 9 Icelandic choirs from around Europe gathered for their bi-annual festival. Long story short, the concert was extraordinary beautiful and fun, followed by a grand dinner and party.

Here you can see the gathered forces of the 9 choirs, which I was so lucky to get the chance to conduct. Great experience and fun for me as a young conductor.

The Icelandic choirs in Europe

I would like to congratulate the Lund Choir committee formally for a job well done. We, the Icelandic choir in London, will host the next festival in 2015. We´re very excited and have started looking for a venue already.

The Cathedral in Lund. Magnificent venue.