The Aldeburgh Festival Podcast

Anna Thorvaldsdottir

Episode Summary

Anna Thorvaldsdottir is one of the most extraordinary composers working today. She was born near Reykjavik in Iceland, and her orchestral pieces often evoke and explore the massive and dramatic landscapes of her home country. In this conversation, Anna talks about her love of orchestral sound – her ‘sonic landscapes’ – and her fruitful collaborations with contemporary ensembles. During the podcast we hear clips from her brilliant orchestral work Catamorphosis (Iceland Symphony, conducted by Daniel Bjarnason, forthcoming on Sono Luminus) and a chamber piece, originally performed with a light installation, In the Light of Air (International Contemporary Ensemble, Sono Luminus). With grateful thanks to Wise Classical and Sono Luminus for their permission to use these extracts. You can hear and see a movement from In the Light of Air with light installation here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pid-bOD1ux0