The Orchestra
Iceland Symphony Orchestra
The Iceland Symphony Orchestra gave its first concert in 1950 and recently celebrated its 60th anniversary. It is Iceland's national orchestra and is funded in large part by the Icelandic state and the city of Reykjavík. The orchestra gives around 60 concerts annually. These include both traditional classical concerts, contemporary music, film music, and much more. Many of the world's most renowed musicians have appeared with the Iceland Symphony Orchestra, including Daniel Barenboim, Anne-Sophie Mutter, Joshua Bell, Hilary Hahn, Mstislav Rostropovich, Radu Lupu, Claudio Arrau, and Evelyn Glennie. Vladimir Ashkenazy has conducted the orchestra regularly since the early 1970s and currently holds the position of Conductor Laureate.
The Iceland Symphony Orchestra moved in 2011 into the new Harpa (Reykjavík Concert and Conference Center) on the Reykjavik harbor front.