This Cultural Life

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Factual: Life Stories

Factual: Arts, Culture & the Media: Arts

In-depth conversations with some of the world's leading artists and creatives.

In-depth conversations with some of the world's leading artists and creatives across theatre, visual arts, music, dance, film and more. Hosted by John Wilson.

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This Cultural Life: Víkingur Ólafsson

Víkingur Ólafsson

BBC Radio 4 - This Cultural Life, Víkingur Ólafsson

Icelandic pianist Víkingur Ólafsson reveals the creative turning points of his life.

Icelandic classical pianist Víkingur Ólafsson reveals the creative turning points of his life.

Víkingur Ólafsson tells John Wilson about the experiences and influences that have had a major impact on his life as one of the world’s foremost classical pianists. Víkingur traces his characteristically gentle style of playing right back to his earliest childhood lessons on his parents’ grand piano, and remembers angry struggles to learn a Mozart sonata. He explains why the Icelandic banking crash of 2008 had a huge impact on his work, and how the opening of the Harpa Concert Hall in 2011 helped launch his international career. Víkingur also reveals how a recent meeting with 95 year old Hungarian composer Gyorgy Kurtág made him reassess his cultural life.

Producer: Edwina Pitman

BBC Radio 4

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

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This Cultural Life

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