Nani is a collection of well-known Greek lullabies, reimagined for voice and guitar in an intimate, acoustic setting. The songs—drawn both from Greek traditional legacy and beloved composers—have been arranged and recorded with one clear purpose: to feel as though someone is right there in the room, singing you to sleep.

This concert marks the release of the album, born from soprano Nina Basdras’s experience of early motherhood while raising her son, Ares Þór, between two cultures. These lullabies were a way of staying connected to her Greek roots, sharing her culture with her child and of soothing her child through music and language.

Presented in a quiet setting, the performance invites listeners—parents, children, and music lovers alike —into a gentle sound world shaped by memory, care, and the timeless rhythm of lullaby.

Nina Basdras Lyric Soprano

Nina Basdras is a Greek lyric soprano based in Reykjavík, Iceland. With a background in classical voice and theater, she brings emotional depth and dramatic sensitivity to her performances.

Originally from Athens, she studied acting and theater before turning to classical singing, training and performing across Europe. Her work spans opera, art song, and interdisciplinary productions, often weaving together voice and stagecraft in expressive and intimate ways.

Tonight’s concert marks the release of Nani—a deeply personal album of Greek lullabies inspired by her journey into motherhood. Through this project, Nina explores memory, cultural identity, and the quiet power of music to comfort, connect, and carry tradition forward.

Ásgeir Ásgeirsson – Guitarist and Composer

Ásgeir Ásgeirsson is an Icelandic guitarist and multi-instrumentalist with over 30 years of professional experience. Known for his versatility, he performs across genres including pop, rock, jazz, and world music. He has collaborated with many of Iceland’s top artists as well as international musicians such as Dave Weckl, Guthrie Govan, and Seamus Blake.

He graduated from the FÍH School of Music in 1999 and studied jazz at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam. Ásgeir has also pursued in-depth studies of stringed instruments and traditional music from the Middle East and the Balkans, training in Greece, Turkey, Bulgaria, Iran, and Jordan.

Ásgeir has released five solo albums: two jazz records featuring original compositions (Passing Through, Tríó), and three world music albums rooted in folk traditions and international collaboration (Two Sides of Europe, Travelling Through Cultures, Persian Path), with vocals by Sigríður Thorlacius and others.

He has performed at major festivals and venues across Europe and the Middle East, including the Reykjavík Arts Festival, tours in Scandinavia, and a special performance in Amman, Jordan. He regularly appears with ensembles such as the Reykjavík Big Band, the Iceland Symphony Orchestra, his trio 6.6., and the group Shadows of Byzantium, of which he is a founding member.