Björk Orkestral
| Tour by Björk | |
 Promotional poster from the Reykjavik charity shows | |
| Start date | 11 October 2021 |
|---|---|
| End date | 24 July 2022 |
| No. of shows | 10 in Europe |
| Björk concert chronology | |
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 the coronavirus 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]
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 |
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[12] |
| 16 February 2022[A] | Conducted by Bjarni Frímann Bjarnason | |||
| 8 June 2022 | Moscow | Russia | Crocus Music Hall | Features the National Philharmonic of Russia, conducted by Vladimir Teodorovič Spivakov |
| 12 June 2022 | Helsinki | Finland | Hartwall Arena | |
| 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 | |
| 24 June 2022 | ||||
| 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[13] |
Notes
|
A These shows are sponsored by Iceland Airwaves though not apart of the festival itself |
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</ref> | 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 Árnson) |
| 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 Árnson) |
| 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 Árnson) |
| 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 Árnson) |
| 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) |
References
- ^ a b c "Björk Announces Orchestral Tour". Pitchfork.com. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
- ^ a b "Björk postpones orchestral concert dates until 2021 due to coronavirus". NME.com. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
- ^ "Björk Announces New Orchestral Livestream Charity Performances". Pitchhfork.com. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
- ^ "Björk is Playing Actual Concerts With a Live Audience in Iceland Next Month". Consequenceofsound.net. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
- ^ "Bjork Cancels All 2020 Shows Due to Coronavirus Pandemic". Mxdwn.com. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
- ^ "How Iceland Beat the Coronavirus". Newyorker.com. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
- ^ "Björk Announces Three Iceland Concerts – With Audience – for August". Rollingstone.com. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f "Í feluleik á Íslandi". Frettabladid.is. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
- ^ a b c "Björk Orkestral – Live From Reykjavík". Icelandairwaves.is. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
- ^ a b c d e "Bjork adds fourth live "orkestral" show to series". Brooklynvegan.com. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
- ^ "Björk to perform three shows at Reykjavík's Harpa Hall this August". Residentadvisor.net. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
- ^ www.arshtcenter.org https://www.arshtcenter.org/mobile/calendar/?srcid=8019&. Retrieved 2021-12-08.
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