Album insights
Víkingur Ólafsson, a musical maverick with a mission, is unveiling his second album for Deutsche Grammophon, titled "Johann Sebastian Bach." This album is a probing exploration of the master of counterpoint, renowned for both the sensual richness of sound and unwavering objectivity. Known for surprising the classical world back in early 2017 with his interpretation of Philip Glass's solo piano études, Ólafsson mesmerized listeners by traversing space and time within minimal structures. Scheduled for release in September, his latest album expertly merges original Bach compositions with transcriptions. Delving into Bach's contrapuntal works, Ólafsson reveals a myriad of facets on this album, demonstrating a blend of svelte, expressive playing that captivates with sensual experimentation and intense emotional depth. As Ólafsson aptly puts it, "Without Bach, everything would be nothing."