“Almost Unreal” for Pianist Víkingur Heiðar to Perform at Proms

“It went incredibly well and was in fact an ideal evening,” stated award-winning pianist Víkingur Heiðar Ólafsson, after performing at the BBC Proms Saturday night – an eight-week summer music festival, including daily orchestral classical music concerts, held annually in the Royal Albert Hall in London.

Not only was this his debut at the Proms, but he was, too, the first Icelandic soloist to perform at the festival, Morgunblaðið reports. He joined the Philharmonia, conducted by Paavo Järvi, and played JS Bach’s Keyboard Concerto in F minor and Mozart’s Piano Concerto in C Minor.

All COVID-19 restrictions were lifted in the UK less than a month ago, making it possible for Víkingur Heiðar to play in front of an audience. “There must have been between five and six thousand people in the audience,” he stated, “and of course it is unbelievable to be able to experience performing in front of an audience again…almost unreal.”

The BBC Proms is one of the world’s largest and most respected music festivals with an emphasis on classical music, held annually since 1895. Its goal has always been to reach as diverse an audience as possible.

Víkingur Heiðar was delighted following the performance: “I got a chance to perform with an ideal orchestra and a superb conductor,” he stated. “I was allowed to do this mostly on my own terms, which is terrific. The British press had covered the upcoming concert widely during the week, creating much anticipation, so it was important for this to go well.”