Alt-rock crosses over to classical setting
From Madison Square Garden聽in New York City to the Roskilde Festival held west of Copenhagen, Denmark, Sigur R贸s has performed in some notable settings over its 23-year career. And for three nights in mid-April, the ethereal Icelandic band will headline a decidedly different location: the Frank Gehry-designed Walt Disney Concert Hall. The trio is part of the Los Angeles Philharmonic鈥檚 Reykjav铆k Festival of contemporary music, a lineup that also includes composer/film scorer J贸hann J贸hannsson (鈥淎rrival鈥�) and an exhibit featuring music by Bj枚rk as well as a performance by the artist. Sigur R贸s is set to perform selections from its songbook as well as new work April 13-15.
The festival runs intermittently April 7-June 4, and Sigur R贸s reflects both the breadth and the depth of the programming aesthetic. 鈥淸They] are so connected to Iceland 鈥� the mood, the expansive sounds, the mystery, darkness,鈥� Johanna Rees, L.A. Philharmonic鈥檚 director of presentations, wrote in an e-mail interview. 鈥淚t鈥檚 seemingly melancholy but then so hopeful and so beautiful. With this festival we are examining the sounds and moods as related to the geography and community of Iceland. This band truly transports the listener to the country.鈥�
Sigur R贸s has collaborated with modern chamber groups in the past, including the four founding string players from the since-expanded Icelandic band Amiina.聽
Other musicians in alternative rock bands have also been crossing over into classical settings. Jonny Greenwood of Radiohead worked with the Australian Chamber Orchestra and the London Contemporary Orchestra; The National鈥檚 Bryce Dessner鈥檚 work has been commissioned by the Paris-based chamber music ensemble Ensemble Intercontemporain, among other collaborations; and Arcade Fire鈥檚 Richard Reed Parry鈥檚 work has been commissioned by the San Francisco string ensemble Kronos Quartet, among other works.
