Musikpriset
Pristagare
Musikprisvinnare 2004: Haukur Tómasson från Island
| The Nordic
Council Music Prize 2004 will be awarded to the Icelandic composer
Haukur Tómasson for his music for the opera "Gudrun's 4th Song"
about Gudrun who takes such fearsome revenge on those who have
wronged her.
Tómasson's success with the music for "Gudrun's 4th Song" is all the more remarkable since it is the first time the composer has worked on musical drama. He collaborated on the new opera with a stage designer (Louise Beck), a librettist (Peter Laugesen) and a director (Lucy Bailey). "It represents a unique opportunity for an Icelandic composer to tell the story of Gudrun's life in Icelandic. I was delighted to be part of this project, which has, of course, attracted such great interest in Icelandic cultural circles", says Haukur Tómasson. The Music Prize is worth 350,000 Danish kroner. Haukur Tómasson will receive the prize during the Nordic Council's Session in Stockholm 1 - 3 November 2004. |
Fotograf: Johannes Jansson/norden.org |
Music prize committee's deliberations
"Haukur Tómasson's composition "Gudrun's 4th Song" accommodates huge tension
between its modern, innovative idiom and the ancient literary Edda tradition
which the composer builds upon and takes forward. The special rhythm in the Edda
poetry is reflected in the rhythm of the musical language, and the bloody drama
of the family revenge is expressed in the musical tone and the melody. The music
is a strong interpretation of great emotions: From the light sweetness of love
to the dark rage of hate. It is a monumental work, in which melodious and
intense arias alternate with ice-cold sensuality and fateful rhythms to create
an overall powerful impression reminiscent of the major Icelandic sagas. "
Further information:
-
Fact sheet on the prizewinner 2004
[da]
-
Press release 07 June 2004
-
Nominations for the Music Prize 2004
-
About the Music
Prize
Ansvarlig webredaktør
2007-04-25