Víkingur Ólafsson: Piano Recital
09 September @ 7.30pm to 8.50pm
About Víkingur Ólafsson: Piano Recital
Icelandic pianist Víkingur Ólafsson reminds the world of our deep human need for beauty and wonder.
With his expressive touch and thoughtful programming, this Grammy Award-winner has moved audiences around the world.
In this recital, Ólafsson explores the musical kinship between Beethoven, Bach, and Schubert whose works speak across centuries with timeless emotional power.
Throughout the programme, he reveals the lyrical depth and resonance that connect these composers across generations, ending with the profound beauty of Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No. 30 in E Major, Op. 109.
Ólafsson will also share the story of his selection of the Steinway D grand piano for the Schwarzman Centre Sohmen Concert Hall and introduce the instrument to Oxford’s audiences.
Performers:
Víkingur Ólafsson piano
Repertoire:
J.S. Bach Prelude in E major BWV854
Beethoven Sonata in E minor Op.90
J.S. Bach Partita No 6 in E minor BWV830
Schubert Sonata in E minor D566 (Moderato; Allegretto)
Beethoven Sonata in E major Op.109
Tickets
Please see important booking information below.
Booking information
Ticket prices:
From £18.00 to £60.00
Tickets are subject to a booking fee
Dates & times:
Wednesday 09 September 2026 at 7.30pm
Running time:
1 hour 20 minutes, without an interval
Location:
Sohmen Concert Hall
About Schwarzman Centre for the Humanities
Schwarzman Centre for the Humanities is a major new cultural and academic landmark for the University of Oxford, bringing together seven humanities faculties with performance, exhibition, and public engagement spaces under one roof. Located in the Radcliffe Observatory Quarter, it is designed to foster interdisciplinary collaboration while opening the humanities to a wider public through events, performances, and year-round programming.
At its heart are world-class venues including a concert hall, theatre, cinema, recital spaces, and galleries, supported by flexible teaching and meeting facilities. A central atrium acts as a social hub, blending academic life with informal gathering spaces, cafés, and exhibitions. More than a university facility, the Centre functions as a civic cultural destination, connecting scholarship with creative practice and strengthening Oxford’s wider cultural life.
