The Archbishop’s Home Concert

What is life like in the land of volcanoes and ice? Soprano Wilhelmína Tómasdóttir and pianist Joel Papinoja guide the audience into the embrace of Icelandic nature, sharing stories of love, humanity, and the Icelandic state of mind.

The concert features Icelandic vocal music rarely heard in Finland, including works by composers Jórunn Viðar (1918–2017) and Jón Þórarinsson (1917–2012), pioneers of Icelandic music. Jórunn was Iceland’s first successful female composer and concert pianist, known for her late-Romantic style rooted in folk traditions. Jón, in addition to being a composer, was a choral conductor and musicologist, and his style blends late Romanticism with serialism. The programme also includes Finnish vocal music, such as works by Maleena Linjama (b. 1992), reflecting on the seasons and the passage of life.

In Iceland, nature is ever-present in daily life. People live at the mercy of the elements: the wind is constant and the earth is always in motion. The unpredictability and constant transformation of nature spark the imagination and offer perspective on life—each moment is meant to be lived, as our time here is brief.

Draumalandið is a journey into the soulscape of one of the world’s happiest nations and into Nordic nature. It combines sparkling joy, solitary love, enduring hope, and the beauty of nature, offering a warm glimpse into Icelandic vocal music and its enchanting language.