Live from (Le) Poisson Rouge on March 3, 2010

A rising star in the contemporary music world, young Icelandic composer and conductor Daníel Bjarnason is constantly on the search for new musical territory. Conducting a 20-piece orchestra in this March 3 performance at (Le) Poisson Rouge, he celebrates the release of Processions, his debut album on the Bedroom Community label. Already receiving rave reviews for Processions from the likes of Boomkat and Popmatters, it's clear that Bjarnason's exploration into new sound worlds is paying off well.

Comfortable working with classical groups from the London Sinfonietta and Iceland Symphony Orchestra to rock and non-classical acts like Sigur Rós and Amina, Bjarnason is also the artistic director and conductor of the Ísafold Chamber Orchestra, an ensemble he founded in 2003. No stranger to the WNYC/WQXR family, Bjarnason was a recent guest on the March 2 episode of New Sounds where he performed a new piano work of his own and chatted with John Schaefer about his new record Processions. Hear that complete episode below:

Delve into Daníel Bjarnason's complete concert above or check out excerpts below, and don't forget also to explore the Q2 Live Concert archive. You can access Q2 24/7 through our pop-out audio player or iTunes.

(L)PR’s Technical Director is Richie Clarke and this concert was mixed by Bill Bowen.

Listen 24/7 to Q2 through our pop-out audio player or iTunes.

Concert Details

Bjarnson and his orchestra open the show with All Sounds to Silence Come.

Bjarnason welcomes pianist Vicky Chow to the stage in a performance of Spindrift, a track from his latest album, Processions.

Another feature from Processions, the show closes with Bow to String, featuring Saeunn Thorsteinsdottir on cello.