midi.is

July 21. - 23. - St. Basil men's choir

Is a professional group of singers, all of them graduates of the most outstanding higher musical universities such as Moscow Conservatory, Russian Academy of Music etc. The choir maintains the magnificent traditions of the Russian Choral art and Orthodox singing culture with their outstanding performances. The choir performed  in Reykjavik Art Festival in 2004 with great reception from the audiences.

The first appearance of the choir after a long break from 1930 due to the prohibiton by the Soviet authorities, was held on October 14 1991 with Sergei Krivobokov conducting. Since then the choir has belonged to the St. Basil Cathedral wich is considered by many the most beautiful church in Russia. The critic of Moscow News wrote about the choir that it´s performance was so captivating that it was impossible to listen to it without sheding some tears. The choir will perform russian songs as well as renesainse and orthodox music.

July 24 at 3 pm - Þóra Einarsdóttir soprano and Steinunn Birna Ragnarsdóttir piano

Þóra Einarsdóttir studied voice at the academy in Reykjavík with Ólöf Kolbrún Hardardóttir and at Guildhall School of Music and Drama with Prof. Laura Sarti. She gave her debut at Glyndebourne Festival in 1995 as Mirror in „The Second Mrs. Kong“ by Harrison Birtwistle, She has since then sang at The Icelandic Opera, Malmö Opera, Opera du Lausanne, ENO, Opera North, Opera Factory, Wiesbaden, Mannheim, Nürnberg and Salzburg. With her wide repertoire as a concert and recital artist she is known on many podia worldwide in Island, Sweden, England, Germany, the United States, France, Italy, Estonia, Belgium and Switzerland. At the concert she will be performing along with pianist Steinunn Birna Ragnarsdóttir Icelandic songs and songs by Schubert and Duparc

July 24. at 8 pm- The Reykholt's trio

Violinist Auður Hafsteinsdóttir, cellist Bryndís Halla Gylfadóttir and pianist Steinunn Birna Ragnarsdóttir have been playing together ever since they were students at the New England Conservatory in Boston. They have all been active in Icelandic music life and have received numerous prices for their playing. At the concert in Reykholt they will perform trios by Shostakovich, Beethoven and Piazzolla.

July 25. at 4 pm - Final concert

The Reykholt's trio, pianist Ástríður Alda Sigurðardóttir, violinist Pálína Árnadóttir, Þórunn Ósk Marinósdóttir viola and Þóra Einarsdóttir soprano will perform pieces by Fauré, Chopin and the popular piano quintett by Robert Schumann.