A Johánn Johánnsson CD on Deutsche Grammophon? That makes you frown for a moment. You don't expect the Icelandic film composer to come to a record company that deals in classical music. Let alone the purveyor of the Royal Household, Deutsche Grammophon. The German record label is classical music, as its website announces. Are the pop journalists who called Johannsson's work 'neo classical' right
… after all? It looks like it. Johánnsson is known for his minimal instrumental compositions, comparable to those of and fellow countrymen . His new record company prefers to compare him with grandmasters and . A daring comparison, although Johánnsson as a film composer is just as adept at telling a musical story. With the 15 songs by Orphée he tells the myth of Orpheus, a well-known theme in both classical and pop music. Johánnsson's version is by no means the least. His music is sparse and his performance is varied. Johánnsson plays the piano, various organs and plays with electronics. The closing song Orphic Hymn, performed by the Theater of Voices choir, is impressive. (JE)more
