Sigur Rós
Written by Emma F.
Icelandic band Sigur Rós played with a 41-piece orchestra at Hamer Hall, Melbourne, on May 19 and 20, showcasing songs from their most recent release, ATTA (2023) along with music from 6 other albums, spanning multiple decades. The location was exquisite, as the phenomenal acoustics allowed the music to fill your body and soul, and feel all the emotion that the music gives.
As a regular MSO concert-goer, it was a much more diverse crowd coming to see Sigur Rós at Hamer Hall; perhaps some who have never seen an orchestra before and will now have a newfound appreciation for the sounds they create.
The stage set the atmosphere from the beginning, with smoke hovering above the low-lit lamp posts scattered across the empty chairs and music stands on the stage. The ambient lighting (red, blue, and warm-toned yellow) danced through the smokey haze, complementing the ethereal orchestral rock music.
Sigur Rós played songs that hit deep feelings (Skul- ÁTTA 2023, Ekki Múkk- Valtari 2012) and songs with big uplifting moments (Hoppípolla- Takk… 2005); both extremes bringing some in the crowd to tears. Jonsi’s range of vocals is exquisite, and along with Georg Holm, the returning Kjartan Sveinsson and the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, the sounds in Hamer Hall enveloped one’s being, filling you with the emotion of the music and the emotion you yourself attach to it.
The band moved effortlessly across their instruments, and the conductor moved with a delicate grace as they brought the orchestra along with Sigur Rós. The beautiful reimagining of their music allowed the orchestra to showcase the incredible sounds of their instruments while ensuring the emotion of the music was not compromised. Instead, the orchestra exuded and amplified the deep feelings of the band, with big sounds from the xylophone to the horn, and the beautiful ensemble of strings. It’s amazing to see the cosmic sounds of Sigur Rós come to life, as they do seem so out of this world (despite the truth of the human emotion they make you feel).
You can find out more about Sigur Rós here.
This post was written by guest author (and dear friend of mine) Emma. You can check out her instagram here, where she usually shows off her latest sewing creations!