Review: Continuing his lengthy tour of JS Bach's works, Vikingur Olafsson shares his next mini-album: a recording of several Bach 'singles' - that's individual pieces rather than 45s - performed live at Reykjavik's Harpa concert hall in January 2024. Building on his deep-rooted passion for the works of the pioneering German composer, the classically trained Olafsson lends his own subtleties to four of Bach's cantatas, as well as two further sacred songs, amounting to a more than touching suite. Chief among these in our estimation is 'Komm, suBer Tod, komm selge Ruh' ('Come, sweet death, come, blessed rest'), which was likely written by Bach in the twilight of his life: the theme alone is morbid and tearjerking enough, yet Olafsson's dexter Icelandic hands bring a trademark coldness, an exactness, that only he could summon.
… Read more