Soprano and conductor Ragnheiður Ingunn Jóhannsdóttir performs with 12 instrumentalists in Eldborg, Harpa at Óperudagar festival on November 5th at 6 pm. Three new Icelandic pieces for soprano and chamber ensemble will be premiered featuring Ragnheiður singing and conducting at the same time.Program:Jóhann G. Jóhannsson: Concerto for Coloratura Soprano and Chamber Ensemble (2022), premiereLyrics: William Shakespeare (Caliban's Speech from The Tempest)I: Be not afeard - lyrics: William ShakespeareII: Ekkert að hræðast - translation: Helgi HálfdanarsonIII: Var icke rädd - translation: Carl August HagbergIngibjörg Ýr Skarphéðinsdóttir: Fasaskipti (2022), premierePoem: Þórdís HelgadóttirMaría Huld Markan Sigfúsdóttir: Djúpalón (2022), premierePoem: Þóra HjörleifsdóttirRichard Strauss: Großmächtige Prinzessin (1912), Zerbinetta's aria from Ariadne auf NaxosLyrics: Hugo von HofmannsthalThe concert is sponsored by Tónlistarsjóður, Tónskáldasjóður RÚV og STEFs and Nótnasjóður STEFs.TICKETS

Opera dinner in Iðnó - Così fan tutte by Mozart is the first opera production of a newly founded music company in Iceland „Kammeroperan“. The show offers a unique evening for the audience, where they enjoy a three-course dinner organized by Iðnó and listen to a casual and fun performance of the opera Così fan tutte along the way. The opera will be performed in an Icelandic translation for the first time. It is our belief that when operas are performed in the mother tongue of most of the audience and performers, their experience of the work will be more moving and enjoyable.When the audience arrives in Iðnó, they step into a time machine that transports them to Reykjavík at the beginning of the 20th century. The performers are in the roles of Iðnó's place holders, serving at the table and playing around the audience who enjoy food, drink, singing and music until late in the evening. A light atmosphere prevails over the plot of the work, but although the drama is certainly present, humor is the main theme in the opera.The opera Così fan tutte is one of the most well-known and popular operas by the great master Mozart, but it has not been performed in Iceland since 2008 by the Icelandic Opera's opera studio. The opera is about two friends, Guglielmo and Ferrando who make a bet with Don Alfonso who is older and pretends to be wiser. Don Alfonso believes that all women are unfaithful, or all women alike (as the title, Cosi fan tutte, suggests). They decide to disguise themselves and prove to Don Alfonso that their girlfriends Fiordiligi and Dorabella are indeed faithful no matter what. This results in a joyful and funny sequence of events that end in disaster.Bjarni Thor Kristinsson directs the show and Gísli Jóhann Grétarsson is the conductor. The singers are Unnsteinn Árnason as Guglielmo, Eggert Reginn Kjartansson as Ferrando, Kristín Sveinsdóttir as Dorabella, Lilja Guðmundsdóttir as Fiordiligi, Jón Svavar Jósefsson as Don Alfonso and Jóna G. Kolbrúnardóttir as Despina.TICKETS

The sound of water and the sound of the sea is the general theme of this interactive and engaging musical adventure for children at the age of 1-5 years. In the context of Nordic Mythology, the narrator-singer, represented by the composer Svafa þórhallsdóttir herself, will guide the children using the story to create interactive and engaging situations that will make the children feel part of a truly mythical adventure, where the music represents a mystical place for them to visit.The two performances in the Nordic House on October 23, are open to children from 1-5 years old and their guardians, free of charge. They start at 11:00 and 12:15.

Open mic for singers and their collaborators - a perfect opportunity to try out some rep and experiment! Come and listen to arias, songs, cabarets and crazy stories from the opera field. The bar will be open, the atmosphere chill and everyone is welcome.

Would you be surprised if we told you that the deaf and hard-of-hearing enjoy music and even write some of their own? That sign-language allows to create new types of poetry? What would the result be if we mix it with the music you know?We are two students, one in music and one in linguistics. Together, over the summer, we constructed a project involving people from diverse backgrounds and life paths: Deaf, hard-of-hearing, hearing, CODA, sign-language speakers or not, musicians. Together we set off to invent musical concepts that are enjoyable to all, and leave no one behind.Icelandic Sign-Language will take the center stage in this program: instead of translating lyrics originating from hearing artists, we composed music starting from sign-language works.Discover music that is seen and felt, just as much as heard; in which voice and hands collaborate to create meaning and bring people together; discover how sign language and vocal language can complete one another and how someone else’s experience can enrich your own.Come and take part in a unique experiment to try and explore new ways music can be made and enjoyed.TICKETS

The Telephone - opera for influencers by Gian Carlo Menotti will be performed at Harpa syngur - Óperudagar festival in a new translation by Bragi Valdimar Skúlason. The performance will take place in Eldborg Harpa on the 5th of November at 14:00 and 19:00.The cast are Hallveig Rúnarsdóttir soprano as Lucy and Áslákur Ingvarsson baritone as Ben, director is Pálína Jónsdóttir and conductor Steinar Logi Helgason will conduct the Óperudagar orchestra.The opera The Telephone - or L´amour a trois was written in 1952 and tells of the trouble Ben gets in while trying to propose to his girlfriend Lucy, since she is completely occupied by her phone. This funny interaction is just as relevant, if not more in our current social media climate. Therefore the libretto has been translated and localized to the modern day, where Lucy is now an influencer. The performance takes around 25 minutes.TICKETS

Kyrja is a new music group from Reykjavík. We use our voices to explore the world, to find the things that give meaning and express them. We don’t know exactly where we’re going, but we’d like to travel there with you.TICKETS

What would you like to listen to?The Jukebox is an unpredictable concert in an intimate and relaxed setting where the audience members partly choose what will be played from a list of different themes. Sometimes, the guests are even allowed to take a little part themselves in the music making. This concert is recommended for everyone!The concert will be in English and Icelandic and it will last about 1 hour.Free for children 12 years and younger! TICKETS - free for children, 12 years and younger

J.S. Bach's Matthew Passion is one of the most beautiful choir piece ever composed. Bach composed it in 1727 for solo voices, double choir and double orchestra, with libretto by the German poet Picander. It sets the 26th and 27th chapters of the Gospel of Matthew (in the Luther Bible) to music, with interspersed chorales and arias.Mattheus Junior is a short theatrical adaptation of Bach’s Matthew Passion, with the aim to present the musical masterpiece to new audiences from the age of eight. Two actors will present the story and five solo singers, three instrumentalists, a choir and a conductor perform some of the most beautiful movements from the passion. Theatrical adaption is by Dutch director Albert Hoex, who also worked with the Icelandic team on this production.The performance lasts for one hour.A word about the performance from Albert Hoex, the director:J.S. Bach's Matthew Passion is one of the most beautiful pieces of music ever composed. Bach composed it in 1727 as an oratorium for solo voices, double choir and double orchestra, with libretto by the German poet Picander. It sets the 26th and 27th chapters of the Gospel of Matthew (in the Luther Bible) to music, with interspersed chorales and arias. Mattheus Ungi is a short theatrical adaptation of Bach’s Matthew Passion, with the aim to present the musical masterpiece to new audiences; young and older together, from eight to eighty eight. Two actors will present the story and five solo singers, three instrumentalists, a choir and a conductor perform the most beautiful movements from the passion. Mattheus Ungi (Matteus Junior) is first made and played in the Netherlands in 2017. The Netherlands have a great tradition in performing Bach's Mattheus Passion. Every year hundreds of performances are to be seen and listened to and every year thousands and thousands of spectators enjoy the music and the story. But there was no adaptation  for a younger and new audience. The main idea of the makers of the Matteus Junior was to create a possibility that new, young and older public together could enjoy this music and story. Both music and story are timeless and can be meaningful for a nowadays audience. By making a theatrical adaption the oratorium changed into an opera and therefore story and music got even more close to the public. Since 2017 Matteus Junior is performed with great success in several cities in the Netherlands and a new and young audience did discover this piece of art indeed.  Guja Sandholt, director of the festival Operudagar and thanks to her singing study in the Netherlands a great lover of Bach's Mattheus Passion, invited the Matteus Junior to her festival with the aim to introduce this work to an Islandic audience. Thanks to this invitation Matteus Junior is now as Matteus Ungi for the first time to be seen and listened to outside the Netherlands: Reykjavik has the honour to be the first guest for this performance abroad. The performance lasts for one hour and ten minutes and there will be no intermission.TICKETS

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Opera Days Festival Finale 2022The Reykjavík Opera Days festival concludes in Eldborg, Harpa on November 5th. Various musical events will take place from noon to evening.Ticket options:Day pass from 13:00 to 19:00Evening pass from 18:00 to 23:00Festival pass from 13:00 to 23:00Free admission from 13-19 for children, 12 years and younger.TICKETSProgram:Hörpuhorn12:45 Quartet Ásbjörg Jónsdóttir’s new quartet for singers to poems by Harpa Rún Kristjáns.Eldborg13:00 Opening and children's program - The Graduale Choir performs Swedish and Icelandic songs for a children’s choir to poems for the climate by children from Iceland and other Nordic countries. A quartet sings “Plast er drasl” and other songs by Helga Rafn Ingvarsson. Fab Lab-langspil is a collaboration between singer and ethnologist Eyjólfur Eyjólfsson, Flóaskóli Elementary School, the Fab Lab Centre in Selfoss and Ragnheiður Gröndal.14:00 The Telephone, opera for influencers - a chamber opera by Menotti, directed by Pálína Jónsdóttir in a new Icelandic translation by Bragi Valdimar Skúlason. Hallveig Rúnarsdóttir and Áslákur Ingvarsson sing the roles of Lucy and Ben and the Opera Days Orchestra performs, conducted by Steinar Logi Helgason.Break15:00 Mattheus Junior - Mattheus Junior is a short theatrical adaptation of Bach’s Matthew Passion, with the aim to present the musical masterpiece to new audiences from the age of eight. Two actors will present the story and five solo singers, three instrumentalists, a choir and a conductor perform some of the most beautiful movements from the passion.16:30 Ukranian Art Songs - Singing students from the Icelandic University of the Arts and S. Demetz' Academy of Singing perform various Ukrainian Art Songs in collaboration with the Ukrainian Art song project in Toronto, Canada.17:00 Choirs on fireLook at the music! (Stefan Sand Groves, Thomas Hammel, Haukur Darri Hauksson)Vox FeminaeKyrjaKATLA18:00 Soprano takes the baton! - Soprano and conductor Ragnheiður Ingunn Jóhannsdóttir performs with 12 instrumentalists in Eldborg, Harpa at Óperudagar festival on November 5th at 6 pm. Three new Icelandic pieces for soprano and chamber ensemble will be premiered featuring Ragnheiður singing and conducting at the same time.19:00 The Telephone - opera for influencers - a chamber opera by Menotti, directed by Pálína Jónsdóttir in a new Icelandic translation by Bragi Valdimar Skúlason. Hallveig Rúnarsdóttir and Áslákur Ingvarsson sing the roles of Lucy and Ben and the Opera Days Orchestra performs, conducted by Steinar Logi Helgason.19:30 Intermission20:30 OPERA PARTY - The host of the evening, Bjarni Thor Kristinsson, will present fun, strange and unexpected opera scenes with the help of some of Iceland's finest singers and instrumentalists.21:30 Intermission22:00 OPERA PARTY

The Delightful Darkness is a lively music theatre piece for children aged 4-99. It tells of the girl Asa, who often visits her Uncle Jon on the way home from school. One day she rushes in to tell Uncle Jon that she has just seen an air spirit. At first they ponder whether such things actually exist. Although Asa does not really believe in supernatural entities, she is convinced that air spirits certainly are real! Soon more otherworldly happenings occur, ghosts start to float about and a kelpie dashes through! Asa is now filled with even more doubt as to what truly is real. The piece is abundant with music and many seldom heard instruments are played, such as the old Icelandic langspil, a toy piano, and pots, spoons and biscuit tins as well. The lyrics consist of old Icelandic verses and poems. The final song´s text is by Thorarinn Eldjarn, who composed it specially for this piece.

Singing students from the Icelandic University of the Arts and S. Demetz' Academy of Singing and perform various Ukrainian Art Songs in collaboration with the Ukrainian Art song project in Toronto, Canada.The project is a ground-breaking initiative that aims to record and publish a veritable anthology of over 1,000 art songs by 26 of Ukraine’s greatest composers for distribution to the music world.The Ukrainian Art Song Project is supported by an international cast of artists and enthusiastic music lovers, and will leave an extraordinary musical legacy to the world. Imagine being part of this.Ukrainian Art Song ProjectTICKETS

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The opening of Reykjavík OPERA DAYS will take place in the Nordic House on October 23rd from 11:00-18:00The programme includes:11:00 - Waves - music theatre for children (1-5 years old)12:30 - Waves- music theatre for children (1-5 years old)14:00 - Langspil workshop with Eyjólfur Eyjólfsson16:00 - Official openingWAVESThe sound of water and the sound of the sea is the general theme of this interactive and engaging musical adventure for children at the age of 1-5 years. In the context of Nordic Mythology, the narrator-singer, represented by the composer Svafa þórhallsdóttir herself, will guide the children using the story to create interactive and engaging situations that will make the children feel part of a truly mythical adventure, where the music represents a mystical place for them to visit.LANGSPIL WORKSHOPAt the langspil workshop participants learn the basics in langspil playing, with the use of swan feathers and horsehair bows. Well known folks songs from Rev. Bjarni Þorsteinsson's Folk Song Collection will be studied and performed at the end of the workshop. Langspil and other teaching materials will be provided on site.OPENINGOfficial festival opening will take place at 16:00. The festival makers present their projects and a new song quartet by Ásbjörg Jónsdóttir, commissioned by Reykjavík Opera Days, will be premiered. Light refreshments from Sónó will be on offer, everyone is welcome!

At the langspil workshop participants learn the basics in langspil playing, with the use of swan feathers and horsehair bows. Well known folks songs from Rev. Bjarni Þorsteinsson's Folk Song Collection will be studied and performed at the end of the workshop. Langspil and other teaching materials will be provided on site.

OPERA PARTY of the year will take place in Eldborg in Harpa on the 5th of November. The host of the evening, Bjarni Thor Kristinsson, will present fun, strange and unexpected opera scenes with the help of some of Iceland finest singers and instrumentalists.TICKETS

American soprano Cayla Rosché and Icelandic pianist Eva Þyri Hilmarsdóttir are presenting a recital of both Icelandic and English Art Songs. Come ready to enjoy songs by Amy Beach, Gwyneth Walker, Þórunn Guðmundsdóttir, Hildigunnur Rúnarsdóttir, Tryggvi M. Baldvinsson, Jórunn Viðar and many many more!Cayla is a Fulbright Scholar from the US who specializes in Icelandic Singing Diction and Repertoire. During the concert she will share more about why she loves Icelandic songs and the language.Eva Þyri is very active in the Icelandic music scene, mainly as a collaborative pianist, and her main interests are lieder/Art song and chamber music, although she can also be heard in various opera productions and solo performances.

Vox feminae, women's choir, will perform arrangements of art songs by Schubert, Icelandic contemporary choir works and some classics from the opera repertoire. Soloist is Hildigunnur Einarsdóttir, mezzo, and pianist Guðrún Dalía Salómonsdóttir.Tickets: 4500 kr. on tix.is

Fab Lab-langspil is a collaboration between singer and ethnologist Eyjólfur Eyjólfsson, Flóaskóli Elementary School and The Fab Lab Centre in Selfoss. The project combines traditional culture of the Icelandic turf farmstead and the latest digital technologies in design and production. The project is a direct continuation of Eyjólfsson’s master thesis, where the applied aspect focused on building langspils from scratch with 5th and 6th grade students at Flóaskóli ES during the academic year of 2018-2019.TICKETS

25. októberDagskrá um Maríu Markan sópransöngkonu, skipt niður á tvö kvöld. Á fyrra kvöldinu verður, auk Maríu, fjallað um þrjú systkini hennar, sem öll voru mjög þekktir söngvarar á sinni tíð. Elísabet var elst þeirra, 8 árum eldri en María. Hún samdi lög, tók þátt í fjölmörgum merkum tónlistarviðburðum og söng oft í útvarp. Einar stundaði söngnám í Noregi og Þýskalandi og söng inn á fjölmargar hljómplötur. Hann samdi hátt í 50 lög. Eitt þeirra, Fyrir átta árum, hefur notið mikilla vinsælda. Sigurður söng einnig á hljómplötur og í útvarp. Einar gaf út ljóðabækur og hélt myndlistarsýningar. Dagskrárgerð er í höndum Trausta Jónssonar og Hreins Valdimarssonar.1.nóvemberSíðari hluti dagskrár um Maríu Markan sópransöngkonu. Hún fæddist í Ólafsvík 1905, nam söng í Þýskalandi og starfaði þar fram að heimsstyrjöld og var þar þekkt og virt. Eftir það hélt hún til Vesturheims og starfaði meðal annars við Metropolitan óperuna í New York-borg, fyrst Íslendinga. Eftir hana liggja fjölmargar upptökur, bæði útgefnar á plötum og í fórum Ríkisútvarpsins. Fjallað verður um atvinnuferil söngkonunnar hérlendis og erlendis og leiknar upptökur með söng hennar.

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Hádegistónleikaröðin Gleym-mér-ei hefur göngu sína á ný miðvikudaginn 12. október 2022. Nemendur söngbrautar Listaháskóla Íslands flytja fjölbreytta dagskrá fyrir söng og píanó. Efnisskrá tónleikanna fléttast í kringum hin ýmsu viðfangsefni hverju sinni og gefst hlustendum færi á að kynnast allri flóru söngtónlistar.Tónleikarnir fara fram á Kjarvalsstöðum eftirfarandi miðvikudaga kl 12:15 //