Álfheiður Erla Guðmundsdóttir - ECHO Rising Star

22 Feb.'26
- 11:00

Concert Croissant #10

Kunal Lahiry is suffering from shoulder pain, which has resulted in last-minute changes to the programme for this concert. We thank you for your understanding.​​​​​​

The Icelandic soprano Álfheiður Erla Guðmundsdóttir is an eclectic artist who dazzles audiences in both classical operas and contemporary productions. She has made various recordings for the Deutsche Grammophon label alongside the pianist Vikingur Ólafsson and with the composer and producer Viktor Orri Árnason. The singer has been nominated by Harpa Reykjavík and the Luxembourg Philharmonic as an ECHO Rising Star for the ’25-’26 season, and she is coming to Brussels as part of her European tour. She will perform Apparition with the exceptional Indian American pianist Kunal Lahiry. In this programme, she interweaves the cycle of the same name by George Crumb – based on poems by Walt Whitman – with melodies by Jean Sibelius and traditional Icelandic songs. Against a backdrop of alternating acoustic and emotional landscapes, the programme broaches profound themes such as the transience of life, the inevitability of death and the hope of an afterlife. 

Álfheiður Erla Guðmundsdóttir has been named 'Rising Star' for the '25-'26 season by Harpa Reykjavík and the Philharmonie Luxembourg as part of the European Concert Hall Organisation (ECHO) network. During her European tour, the artist has been invited to perform at Bozar and to give a private concert for the residents of Petit-Château (refugee arrival centre), in collaboration with the Fedasil and Orfeo associations.

With the support of the van Well van der Snoek Foundation.
 

Meet Álfheiður Erla Guðmundsdóttir! After the concert, the soprano will be present for a signing session in the Horta Hall.

Álfheiður Erla Guðmundsdóttir
soprano
Kunal Lahiry
piano
Programme
Olivier Messiaen

Trois Mélodies : Pourquoi?

Samuel Barber

The Crucifixion, Of. 29/5

Judith Weir

White Eggs in the Bush

Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy

Hexenlied, Op. 8/8

Anonymous

Traditional Ukrainian song: A Duckling Swims in the Tisza (arr. Lahiry i Guðmundsdóttir)

Nico Muhly

Sá ég svani

Claude Debussy

Apparition (Quatre chansons de jeunesse)

María Huld Markan Sigfúsdóttir

Náðarstef, for soprano and piano (commissioned by ECHO & Harpa Reykjavík and Philharmonie Luxembourg; Belgian premiere)

Anonymous

Traditional Palestinian song: Hadi Ya Bahar (arr. Lahiry i Guðmundsdóttir)

Philip Glass

Etude No. 9

Anonymous

Negro spiritual : Oh Freedom (arr. Shawn E. Okpebholo)

Jean Sibelius

Norden

Practical information

Location

HLB Stage

Ravenstein 23 1000 Brussels

Sound level

Level 2 ≤ 95 db

Concert with audience on stage

Breakfast Formula
Take the opportunity to enjoy a delicious breakfast (two mini croissants or one large croissant, jam, and coffee or orange juice), at the special price of €6*. 

*This offer is valid on the day of the concert from 10am to 11am; by reservation only: just book the breakfast + concert deal until Friday 6pm.To book, select the breakfast option via the "Tickets" button.​​​​​​

Rates

MyBozar Card

12

< 26 MyBozar Card

8

Standard

16

< 26 year

11

Card : Preferential Reimbursement / EU Disability

8

Concerts

Young talents

2025-2026

Concert Croissant

Concerts

2025-2026

Chamber Music