Masterpieces of music literature for violin and piano will be performed by Joaquin Páll and Nína Margrét, who have performed recitals together over the years and are now stepping on the Norðurljós stage together for the first time. They are in the forefront of Icelandic musicians and during their career have played in concerts around the world and recorded for broadcasting media and publishing companies.

Programme

L.v. Beethoven (1770-1827) Sonata for violin and piano Op. 30 no. 1 in A major
F. Mendelssohn (1809-1847) Sonata for violin and piano MWV Q26 in F major
M. de Falla (1876-1946)/F. Kreisler (1875-1962) Danse Espagnole
A selection of Spanish virtuoso works for violin and piano
M. Ravel (1875-1937) Tzigane

Joaquín Páll Palomares began studying the violin at the age of six under the guidance of his parents, Unnur Pálsdóttir and Joaquín Palomares. He is currently a solo player of the Danish National Symphony Orchestra. Previously, he held the same position with the Iceland Symphony Orchestra and the Danish Sinfonietta.

Joaquín Páll has performed numerous concertos as a soloist with different orchestras, both nationally and internationally. Highlights include performances of the Sibelius and Tchaikovsky violin concertos with the Iceland Symphony Orchestra, Brahms’ Violin Concerto with the Aarhus Symphony Orchestra, Beethoven’s Violin Concerto with the Torrevieja Symphony Orchestra, Mozart’s Violin Concerto with the Orquesta Sinfónica de la Región de Murcia, and Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons with the Orchestra Femminile Italiana.

Joaquín is also an active chamber musician and has performed extensively across Europe, including in Iceland, Spain, Germany, England, Italy, France, Bulgaria, the Faroe Islands, Denmark, and the Netherlands. He has been a member of the Kordo Quartet since 2018.

He has been awarded several prizes throughout his career. In 2007, he won the Icelandic competition Young Soloists, and in 2014 he received a prize in the International Danish String Competition, in addition to several other awards at competitions. Joaquín has participated in masterclasses with distinguished violinists, including Noah Bendix-Balgley, Nikolaj Znaider, and Pekka Kuusisto.

He completed his Master’s degree, followed by a Soloist Diploma, at the Royal Danish Academy of Music in Copenhagen in 2018 under the guidance of violinist Serguei Azizian. He also earned a Bachelor’s degree from the Hochschule für Musik “Hanns Eisler” in Berlin in 2013, where he studied under Professor Ulf Wallin.

Joaquín Páll plays a violin by N. Gagliano, made in 1750.

Pianist Nína Margrét Grímsdóttir has established a solid reputation as a performing and recording soloist and chamber musician. Her concert tours outside Iceland have taken her to China, Japan, England, France, Italy and Scandinavia. She has also appeared in concerts widely in the United States and Canada, including thirteen American States and five Canadian Provinces. Her solo and chamber music performances are available on five CDs issued by BIS, Naxos, Acte Préalable and SKREF. She holds degrees and diplomas from the City University of London, the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Mannes College of Music and a DMA performance degree from the City University of New York. Nína Margrét is on the faculty of the Iceland University of the Arts, Kópavogur Music School, Tónskóli Sigursveins and is president of WPTA Iceland.