Björk Orkestral – Live From Reykjavík
Johnny James, Managing Editor
Icelandic pop icon Björk recently announced new dates for a four-part series of livestreamed orchestral concerts.
Presented in partnership with Iceland Airwaves Festival, the concerts will be performed to a live audience at Harpa Hall in Reykjavík, and will act as a celebration of the Icelandic musicians that Björk has collaborated with over her three decade-long career.
The series will showcase new orchestral arrangements of songs spanning her entire discography, with the ground-breaking musician performing acoustically with a slightly different ensemble on each date. The first concert (29th August) will see her perform with strings from the Iceland Symphony Orchestra, the second (5th September) with the Hamrahlíð Choir, the third (12th September) with brass from the Icelandic Symphony Orchestra, and the fourth (12th September) with a 15 piece ensemble from the Icelandic Symphony Orchestra.
Discussing the performances, Björk said: “I would like to invite you to some concerts to honour folks who got hit hardest in the coronavirus and the black lives matter movement, and to honour how many Icelandic musicians I have worked with through the years” – that’s well over 100, as of 2021.
“I feel we are going through extraordinary times, horrifying but also an opportunity to truly change,” she added. “It is demanded of us that we finally confront all racism, that we learn that lives are more important that profit, and look inside us and finecomb out all our hidden prejudices and privileges.”
Björk has also confirmed that these shows are designed to raise money for Icelandic women’s charity, Kvennaathvarfið, which supports women and immigrants of different origin within Iceland. Viewers of the livestreams will be invited to donate online.
