Piano Performer Magazine VENUES: Harpa Concert Hall | Reykjavik, Iceland
Article by Ronald Hawkins (MGBH)
A venue is more than a place where an event happens. It is where history is made and, often, a lifetime memory is created. Within the walls of these buildings, they capture the sounds from the ordinary to the extraordinary performances.
So, grab your passport and lets explore concert venues throughout the world!
The home of the Iceland Symphony Orchestra and The Icelandic Opera, HARPA CONCERT HALL is one of Reykjavik’s greatest and distinguished landmarks, which opened to public on May 4, 2011. The name Harpa was the winning name out of 4,156 proposals entered by its 1,200 citizens. The requirement was to name the modern space an Icelandic word that is easy to speak in most languages – Har-pa, which means “harp.”
Designed by Henning Larsen Architects, Olafur Eliasson (MGBH), and Batteriiò, Harpa’s crystalline structure was inspired by Icelandic landscapes and traditions. Its dramatic design captures and reflects the light of the city, ocean and sky to thrilling effect (1).
The concert hall and conference center are located in the heart of the city, offering breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains and the North Atlantic Ocean. It is the host to many diverse musical genres and music festivals year round. There are four performance spaces in Harpa: Eldborg , Nordurljos, Silfurberg, and Kaldalòn.
Eldborg is the largest hall in Harpa, accommodating 1,800 guests. It is truly a world-class concert hall hosting some of the biggest names from all over the world. Moving along the second floor situated between Eldborg and Silfurberg is the 520 theatre style recital hall, Nordurljòs. This space is ideal for chamber groups and smaller ensembles.
If you are looking for the best technology equipment at Harpa, check out Silfurberg – a conference hall named after a translucent crystal rarely found outside Iceland. The hall can accommodate up to 840 people. Interesting to note is the hall’s acoustics are configured for spoken word.
Lastly is the smallest hall in Harpa – Kaldalòn auditorium. Kaldalòn is perfect space to accommodate 195 guest for concerts, conferences, meetings, screenings, and lectures. A curious fact about Kaldalòn is that its reverberation time may be altered, making this hall accessible for many different types of events.
Numerous music festivals have been held in the building including Iceland Airwaves, Reykjavik Midsummer Music, Dark Music Days, Reykjavik Arts Festival, Reykjavik Jazz Festival, Sónar Reykjavík, Tectonics, and Harpa International Music Academy (2).
Harpa has hosted a Master Pianists Concert Series where such world known pianists as Jorge Luis Prats and Richard Goode, appeared in concerts. Young artists are also kept in mind, with Harpa granting an annual award – the Upbeat – for children and youth compositions.
Olafur Eliasson (MGBH), the artist behind Harpa
A recipient of a number of accolades, Harpa has been chosen one of the best concert halls of the new millennium by the prestigious music magazine Gramophone magazine as well as the best performance venue in 2011 by Travel & Leisure magazine. Most recently is the prestigious 2013 European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture – Mies van der Rohe Award. Wiel Arets ((MGBH), Chair of the Jury, said: “Harpa has captured the myth of a nation – Iceland – that has consciously acted in favor of a hybrid-cultural building during the middle of the ongoing Great Recession. The iconic and transparent porous ‘quasi brick’ appears as an ever-changing play of colored light, promoting a dialogue between the city of Reykjavik and the building’s interior life. By giving an identity to a society long known for its sagas, through an interdisciplinary collaboration between Henning Larsen Architects and artist Olafur Eliasson (MGBH), this project is an important message to the world and to the Icelandic people, fulfilling their long expected dream.”
About the Author:
Ronald Hawkins is a Schimmel Artist who serves on the piano faculty at The Conservatory for the Arts, Calvary Music School and Encore Music Academy in in Chrystal Lake, IL (USA). His current projects include performing the Well-Tempered Clavier (Book I) by J.S. Bach and an unique multimedia program – Masterpieces: Arts that Inspired Music.
References:
(1) http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-13-376_en.htm
(2) http://en.harpa.is/about-harpa
