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Revision as of 18:10, 5 July 2022

Björk Orkestral
Tour by Björk
Promotional poster from the Reykjavik charity shows
Start date11 October 2021 (2021-10-11)
End date24 July 2022 (2022-07-24)
No. of shows10 in Europe
2 in North America
3 in South America
15 in total
Björk concert chronology
  • Cornucopia
    (2019–22)
  • Björk Orkestral
    (2021–22)

Björk Orkestral is an "unplugged" concert series by Icelandic musician Björk. Originally announced for the summer of 2020,[1] all concert dates were delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[2] A four-part concert series was later announced for August 2020 at the Harpa concert hall in Reykjavik, then rescheduled to October and November 2021 due to new restrictions against the pandemic by the Icelandic government. Each date featured different musicians, instrumentation and set lists and all four concerts were live streamed to raise money for Kvennaathvarfið, a women's shelter in Reykjavik.[3] Over 100 Icelandic musicians joined Björk on stage across the four matinee performances, which were some of the first live performances with an audience by a major international singer since COVID-19 crippled the live music industry.[4]

Background and concept

After touring her "theatrical" stage production, Cornucopia, in 2019, Björk announced a new concert series called Björk Orkestral (originally spelled Björk Orchestral) in February 2020.[1] The original dates were scheduled for summer 2020 in France, England, Russia, Finland and Germany, and the tour was billed as acoustic, strings-only shows in celebration of Björk's "orchestral arrangements of works so far".[1] Shortly after these dates were announced, however, the coronavirus pandemic put a crippling halt on live concerts and Björk had to postpone the show until summer 2022.[2][5]

Measures the Icelandic government took to contain the virus proved to be one of the most effective throughout the world, and by mid-May 2020 the country had slowed the spread of the coronavirus to 2 new cases a week, effectively eradicating COVID-19 from its shores.[6]

Recognizing the unique position Iceland was in but also the devastating global economic impact COVID-19 left in its wake, along with the world-wide Black Lives Matter protests in response to the police murder of George Floyd in the United States,[7] Björk decided it was the right time to bring her orchestral concerts to live audiences in her home country. "There are many musicians out of work right now... Many of them live by playing concerts because they no longer earn revenue from record sales."[8] She credits her father's role in Iceland unions for her desire to fight for musician's wages.[8] The proceeds from the concerts went to Kvennaathvarfið, a women's shelter dedicated to refugees in Iceland, though Björk revealed that due to the isolation experienced during lock down, Icelandic women in general are in need of Kvennaathvarfið's services.[8] In addition to concert ticket sales, each matinee performances was followed by an evening of food and beverages with the proceeds also going to Kvennaathvarfið.[8] In addition to the funds raised in Iceland, the concerts were live streamed throughout the world to raise money for charity with donations being sent to non-profit organizations in each country the shows are streamed in.[8]

Björk at La Seine Musicale in Paris on June 21, 2022, for the second leg of the European tour.

As for the concerts themselves, Björk has wanted to hold these acoustic-only shows since publishing her first collection of sheet music in 2017.[8] 34 Scores for Piano, Organ, Harpsichord and Celeste features acoustic arrangements created in collaboration with her longtime accompanist Jónas Sen which covers her entire discography. Björk Orkestral saw Björk reunite with over 100 Icelandic musicians,[9] Sen included, that have contributed to her studio albums and live concerts. Initially only 3 concerts were announced, but on 13 July 2020 a 4th show was added to the schedule.[10] Each concert featured a different set of musicians and instruments and a unique set list.[11] The 11 October show featured the strings section of the Icelandic Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Viktor Orri Árnason, in addition to the harpist Katie Buckley. Árnason replaces Bjarni Frimann Bjarnason who was originally announced as conductor. The performance will draw the bulk of its material from Björk's albums, Post (1995) and Vespertine (2001) plus the 2000 soundtrack album Selmasongs.[10]

The 24 October show featured the 50-person Hamrahlíð Choir conducted by Þorgerður Ingólfsdóttir and musician Bergur Þórisson on organ and will feature songs primarily from Björk's albums, Medúlla (2004), Biophilia (2011) and Utopia (2017).[10] Both The Hamrahlíð Choir and Þórisson featured on the album Utopia and performed on the New York and EU dates of the Cornucopia tour.[9]

The October 31 show featured the brass section of the Icelandic Symphony Orchestra in addition to the flute septet Viibra. The members of Viibra played the flutes on Björk's 2017 album Utopia and officially formed as a group to tour with Björk throughout the Utopia and Cornucopia tours. In addition to brass and flutes, the night will see American-born harpist Katie Buckley return in addition to pianist and long-time collaborator Jónas Sen.[10] Material will be drawn from the albums Vespertine, Volta (2007) and Utopia.[10]

These concerts were held in collaboration with Iceland Airwaves, RÚV, Harpa, Promote Iceland, and Icelandair.[9]

Songs performed

During each concert in Iceland, Björk performed a different set of songs to fit the different musicians invited to perform with her.

11 October 2021 Song Album
"Stonemilker" Vulnicura
"Aurora" Vespertine
"I've Seen It All" Selmasongs
"Sun in My Mouth" Vespertine
"You've Been Flirting Again" Post
"Isobel" Post
"Hyperballad" Post
"Harm of Will" Vespertine
"Bachelorette" Homogenic
"Unison" Vespertine
"Generous Palmstroke" Vespertine B-side
24 October 2021 Song Album
"Show Me Forgiveness" Medúlla
"Pleasure Is All Mine" Medúlla
"Hidden Place" Vespertine
"Cosmogony" Biophilia
"Sonnets/Unrealities XI" Medúlla
"Unravel" Homogenic
"Vertabræ by Vertabræ" Volta
"Oceania" Medúlla
"Who Is It" Medúlla
"Mouth's Cradle" Medúlla
"Where Is the Line" Medúlla
"Human Behaviour" Debut
"New World" Selmasongs
31 October 2021 Song Album
"Tabula Rasa" Utopia
"Utopia" Utopia
"The Gate" Utopia
"Courtship" Utopia
"Pagan Poetry" Vespertine
"Losss" Utopia
"Sue Me" Utopia
"Generous Palmstroke" Vespertine B-side
"Aeroplane" Debut
"Wanderlust" Volta
"Mutual Core" Biophilia
"The Anchor Song" Debut
15 November 2021 Song Album
"Jóga" Homogenic
"Come to Me" Debut
"Hunter" Homogenic
"Lionsong" Vulnicura
"History of Touches" Vulnicura
"Black Lake" Vulnicura
"Mouth Mantra" Vulnicura
"5 Years" Homogenic
"Quicksand" Vulnicura
"Pluto" Homogenic
"Notget" Vulnicura

Touring set list

For the touring shows, Björk performs with a 22 piece string orchestra, combining songs from the 4 original Reykjavík shows. This set list is representative of the show on February 13th, 2022, in Miami, Florida.[12]

  1. "Stonemilker"
  2. "Aurora"
  3. "Come to Me"
  4. "Lionsong"
  5. "I've Seen It All"
  6. "History of Touches"
  7. "Black Lake"
  8. "Hunter"
  9. "You've Been Flirting Again"
  10. "Isobel"
  11. "5 Years"
  12. "Jóga"
  13. "Mouth Mantra"
  14. "Bachelorette"
Encore
  1. "Overture"
  2. "Pluto"
  • Following the February 13th Knight Concert Hall show, "5 Years" and "Mouth Mantra" were replaced by "Hyperballad" and "Quicksand", respectively.

Tour dates

Date City Country Venue Notes
Europe
11 October 2021[A] Reykjavík Iceland Eldborg Auditorium, Harpa Features string players from the Icelandic Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Viktor Orri Árnason, and harpist Katie Buckly
24 October 2021[A] Features the Hamrahlið Choir, conducted by Þorgerður Ingólfsdóttir; organ and electronics played by Bergur Þórisson; organ, piano and accordion played by Bjarni Frímann Bjarnason
31 October 2021[A] Features brass players from the Icelandic Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Björg Brjánsdóttir; flute septet Viibra; harpist Katie Buckley; electronics played by Bergur Þórisson
15 November 2021[A] Features a 15 piece chamber ensemble from Iceland Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Viktor Orri Árnason
13 February 2022[A] Miami United States Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts Conducted by Bjarni Frímann Bjarnason[13]
16 February 2022[A] Conducted by Bjarni Frímann Bjarnason
17 June 2022 Berlin Germany Waldbühne Open Air Features the Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Vladimir Jurowskij
21 June 2022 Paris France La Seine Musicale Features the Pasdeloup Orchestra, conducted by Bjarni Frímann Bjarnason
24 June 2022 Features the Pasdeloup Orchestra, conducted by Bjarni Frímann Bjarnason
3 July 2022 Montreux Switzerland Montreux Jazz Festival Features the Sinfonietta de Lausanne
24 July 2022 Cheshire England Bluedot Festival Features The Hallé orchestra, conducted by Mark Philip Elder
30 July 2022 Trondheim Norway Festningen, at Olavsfestdagene Features Trondheim Soloists[14]
3 August 2022 Bergen Norway Conducted by Bjarni Frímann Bjarnason
5 November 2022 São Paulo Brazil Primavera Sound Conducted by Bjarni Frímann Bjarnason
9 November 2022 Buenos Aires Argentina Primavera Sound Conducted by Bjarni Frímann Bjarnason
13 November 2022 Santiago Chile Primavera Sound Conducted by Bjarni Frímann Bjarnason

Notes

Cancellations and rescheduled shows

The tour has been marred by repeated shows' rescheduling due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. The Icelandic dates have been forced to move a world record number of times,[citation needed] with the series at the Harpa first scheduled to commence on 9 August 2020, then 29 August 2020, then 17 January 2021, then 18 April 2021, then 29 August 2021, and finally 11 October 2021, a total of six different leg's dates.

2 July 2020 Moscow, Russia Crocus Music Hall COVID-19 pandemic
6 July 2020 Helsinki, Finland Hartwall Arena COVID-19 pandemic
9 July 2020 Berlin, Germany Waldbühne Open Air COVID-19 pandemic
17 July 2020 Paris, France Seine Musicale COVID-19 pandemic
20 July 2020 Paris, France Seine Musicale COVID-19 pandemic
26 July 2020 Cheshire, England Bluedot Festival COVID-19 pandemic
9 August 2020 Reykjavík, Iceland Eldborg Auditorium, Harpa COVID-19 pandemic
15 August 2020 Reykjavík, Iceland Eldborg Auditorium, Harpa COVID-19 pandemic
23 August 2020 Reykjavík, Iceland Eldborg Auditorium, Harpa COVID-19 pandemic
29 August 2020 Reykjavík, Iceland Eldborg Auditorium, Harpa COVID-19 pandemic (With strings from Iceland Symphony Orchestra, conductor - Bjarni Frímann Bjarnason)
13 September 2020 Reykjavík, Iceland Eldborg Auditorium, Harpa COVID-19 pandemic (With Hamrahlíð choir, conductor - Þorgerður Ingólfsdóttir)
19 September 2020 Reykjavík, Iceland Eldborg Auditorium, Harpa COVID-19 pandemic (With brass from the Iceland Symphony Orchestra and flute septet Viibra, Katie Buckley - harp, Jónas Sen - pianó, conductor Viktor Orri Árnason)
28 September 2020 Reykjavík, Iceland Eldborg Auditorium, Harpa COVID-19 pandemic (With 15 piece chamber ensemble strings from Iceland Symphony Orchestra, Katie Buckley - harp, conductor - Bjarni Frímann Bjarnason)
17 January 2021 Reykjavík, Iceland Eldborg Auditorium, Harpa COVID-19 pandemic (With strings from Iceland Symphony Orchestra, conductor - Bjarni Frímann Bjarnason)
24 January 2021 Reykjavík, Iceland Eldborg Auditorium, Harpa COVID-19 pandemic (With brass from the Iceland Symphony Orchestra and flute septet Viibra, Katie Buckley - harp, Jónas Sen - pianó, conductor Viktor Orri Árnason)
31 January 2021 Reykjavík, Iceland Eldborg Auditorium, Harpa COVID-19 pandemic (With Hamrahlíð choir, conductor - Þorgerður Ingólfsdóttir)
7 February 2021 Reykjavík, Iceland Eldborg Auditorium, Harpa COVID-19 pandemic (With 15 piece chamber ensemble strings from Iceland Symphony Orchestra, Katie Buckley - harp, conductor - Bjarni Frímann Bjarnason)
18 April 2021 Reykjavík, Iceland Eldborg Auditorium, Harpa COVID-19 pandemic (With strings from Iceland Symphony Orchestra, conductor - Bjarni Frímann Bjarnason)
25 April 2021 Reykjavík, Iceland Eldborg Auditorium, Harpa COVID-19 pandemic (With brass from the Iceland Symphony Orchestra and flute septet Viibra, Katie Buckley - harp, Jónas Sen - pianó, conductor Viktor Orri Árnason)
2 May 2021 Reykjavík, Iceland Eldborg Auditorium, Harpa COVID-19 pandemic (With Hamrahlíð choir, conductor - Þorgerður Ingólfsdóttir)
9 May 2021 Reykjavík, Iceland Eldborg Auditorium, Harpa COVID-19 pandemic (With 15 piece chamber ensemble strings from Iceland Symphony Orchestra, Katie Buckley - harp, conductor - Bjarni Frímann Bjarnason)
10 June 2021 Helsinki, Finland Hartwall Arena COVID-19 pandemic
14 June 2021 Moscow, Russia Crocus Music Hall COVID-19 pandemic
18 June 2021 Berlin, Germany Waldbühne Open Air COVID-19 pandemic
25 June 2021 Paris, France Seine Musicale COVID-19 pandemic
28 June 2021 Paris, France Seine Musicale COVID-19 pandemic
25 July 2021 Cheshire, England Bluedot Festival COVID-19 pandemic
29 August 2021 Reykjavík, Iceland Eldborg Auditorium, Harpa COVID-19 pandemic (With strings from Iceland Symphony Orchestra, conductor - Bjarni Frímann Bjarnason)
5 September 2021 Reykjavík, Iceland Eldborg Auditorium, Harpa COVID-19 pandemic (With brass from the Iceland Symphony Orchestra and flute septet Viibra, Katie Buckley - harp, Jónas Sen - pianó, conductor Viktor Orri Árnason)
12 September 2021 Reykjavík, Iceland Eldborg Auditorium, Harpa COVID-19 pandemic (With Hamrahlíð choir, conductor - Þorgerður Ingólfsdóttir)
19 September 2021 Reykjavík, Iceland Eldborg Auditorium, Harpa COVID-19 pandemic (With 15 piece chamber ensemble strings from Iceland Symphony Orchestra, Katie Buckley - harp, conductor - Bjarni Frímann Bjarnason)
8 June 2022 Moscow, Russia Crocus City Hall 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine
12 June 2022 Helsinki, Finland Hartwall Arena 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine (Hartwall Arena is Russian owned)

References

  1. ^ a b c "Björk Announces Orchestral Tour". Pitchfork.com. 26 February 2020. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
  2. ^ a b "Björk postpones orchestral concert dates until 2021 due to coronavirus". NME.com. 23 May 2020. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
  3. ^ "Björk Announces New Orchestral Livestream Charity Performances". Pitchhfork.com. 27 June 2020. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
  4. ^ "Björk is Playing Actual Concerts With a Live Audience in Iceland Next Month". Consequenceofsound.net. 27 June 2020. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
  5. ^ "Bjork Cancels All 2020 Shows Due to Coronavirus Pandemic". Mxdwn.com. 25 May 2020. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
  6. ^ "How Iceland Beat the Coronavirus". Newyorker.com. 29 May 2020. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
  7. ^ "Björk Announces Three Iceland Concerts – With Audience – for August". Rollingstone.com. 27 June 2020. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
  8. ^ a b c d e f "Í feluleik á Íslandi". Frettabladid.is. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
  9. ^ a b c "Björk Orkestral – Live From Reykjavík". Icelandairwaves.is. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
  10. ^ a b c d e "Bjork adds fourth live "orkestral" show to series". Brooklynvegan.com. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  11. ^ "Björk to perform three shows at Reykjavík's Harpa Hall this August". Residentadvisor.net. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
  12. ^ https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/bjork/2022/knight-concert-hall-miami-fl-53881355.html [bare URL]
  13. ^ www.arshtcenter.org https://www.arshtcenter.org/mobile/calendar/?srcid=8019&. Retrieved 2021-12-08. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  14. ^ "Olavsfest 2022 - Olavsfestdagene i Trondheim - 28. Juli - 3. August".
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