Event info

Welcome to the graduation concert series of the MA course in composition. It is in two parts, so one may rest or take a walk in between.

At four o'clock we hear the piece Magnús Árni Skjöld has written for choir and chamber group, Walpurgis Night. It employs various fragments of texts, mostly freely adapted quotes from Yngvi Jóhannesson's translation of Faust by Goethe. Magnús dedicates the piece to his grandson, Örlygur Darri Úlfsson, who was born on Walpurgis Night – the night before May 1 – in 2021.

Next, the Caput Ensemble plays Fluctuations by Agnar Már Magnússon. It is the author's reflection on the perception of time and the flexibility of time. He reminds us that eternity may be perceived in one instant, and that although life is short, it may also appear endless.

At six o'clock we will hear Lenses by Naomi Pinno. It is in four movements, each one representing a particular perspective where imitation and contrast interact. Naomi has been fascinated by the extreme nature and vibrant culture of Iceland and dedicates the piece to the people and places that have enriched her during her two year stay.

After that we hear and see the piece 1966 by Siv Disa Anderson. It is a multimedia opera, combining film and live performance. She says of her piece: "Overnight, a seismic shift changes life in China forever: schools are closed, people vanish, and society is reordered through a process of chaos." Siv bases her texts on true stories from the early years of the Cultural Revolution, in the words of three sisters from Beijing, interviewed 50 years later. The voices are those of Hljómeyki Chamber Choir with soloists Steinunn María Þormar and Bergþóra Ægisdóttir.

The Caput Ensemble is conducted by Guðni Franzson. Egill Gunnarsson has coached Hljómeyki Chamber Choir.