One of the greatest things in music shows is the person. When you buy tickets you know, that there's going to be a sound, musicians and audience. You have expectations, but you cannot know for sure if this show will still your heart. Sometimes, when you've never attended to someone's gig, but you've listened to this great music and you think you know that concert will be great, the reality is so cruel, 'cause the musician suck at live. That's not what happened at Impart, 21st March 2012 evening, on City Sounds event.
All that times when I've been listening to Ólafur Arnalds' music I was thinking, that he's a really serious man. Not boring, depressed or sad. Serious. I think it's because we identify author with his work. Of course in some cases it's not a mistake, artists very often express themselves by creation. But it's not always and even when they are, it's doesn't mean, that piece of work could tell us who this person is. All those issues are much more complicated, my purpose of writing about them was only to signal them. Ólafur Arnalds is serious but only when he plays.
Usually, when I go to the concert I know what I can expect and I'm not wrong. This time, when I was imagining, what kind of person Ólafur Arnalds is, I was mistaken. I would never say that this artist can be such funny, relaxed man with all that distance to the world and himself. What I can say about him is that he's not a star in popular meaning. He builds relationship with the audience, he doesn't speak to fans – he talks with them, it's a kind of conversation, that makes all people equals. From the very beginning of the show I felt this special kind of excitement and relaxation at once. I was concentrated but simultaneously
I was feeling very free and not obligated.
When Ólafur Arnalds came to the stage he momentary stole our hearts. How? By being very natural and committing a faux pas which was accidental putting cable in glass of red wine. Momentary all the audience started to be laughing as he was too. From that moment he didn't play for total strangers and we didn't felt like strangers. Icelander asked the audience to sing for him, actually it was making only one sound, which he recorded and used in his improvisation – an opening song. After that on the stage appeared Viktor and Paul – great musicians who was supporting Arnalds by string section. Since that moment we could hear delicate sounds of such songs like Fyrsta, Þú Ert Jörðin or Ljósið. But not only parts from …and They Have Escaped the Weight of Darkness was played on that gig, there also was for exaple 3326 with wonderful violinists
final.
During every break between compositions he was entertaining the audience with telling stories about songs and he's tour. For example, inspirations for writing Poland was polish vodka and our horrible roads which are the worst possible duet. But not between every compositions were breaks, artist created sequences and have made from those particular songs very beautiful integrity. The most emotional moment for me during this show, was when Ólafur Arnalds played Lag fyrir Ömmu – song dedicated for his grandmother, who was his close friend and faithful fan. He told us a funny and personal story about her promoting his work by giving her guests his CDs. When he told us that she passed away I was authentically
sad and also very honoured
that I could be there and listen to this very personal and emotional song played in front of me.
Whole show was a kind of experience that is hard to be reported. He wasn't just playing, there was a permanent conversation, relation between him and audience. During compositions we could just close eyes and let him in to our minds. The best measure for the artists skills in making a show is the reception. On Ólafur Arnalds concert at Impart audience was charmed, the composer got standing ovations twice (second one was after the bis). The most important is that after the show I was moved for a vary long time and now, for four days from the event, I still have a blissful smile on my face.
S.
Whole show was a kind of experience that is hard to be reported. He wasn't just playing, there was a permanent conversation, relation between him and audience. During compositions we could just close eyes and let him in to our minds. The best measure for the artists skills in making a show is the reception. On Ólafur Arnalds concert at Impart audience was charmed, the composer got standing ovations twice (second one was after the bis). The most important is that after the show I was moved for a vary long time and now, for four days from the event, I still have a blissful smile on my face.
S.
