In recent years Gísladóttir has attracted a lot of attention from audiences, ensembles and orchestra leaders both in Denmark and internationally with her dark, uncompromising Nordic universe. Gísladottir writes music based on a fundamental notion of sound as a living being. As author and music critic, Tim Rutherford-Jonson writes in an essay for the Ernst von Siemens Stiftung: "To listen to Gísladóttir’s music is to be similarly folded into a twisting organism, watching from the inside as it spreads, consumes, dances and reproduces."
Bára Gísladóttir made her debut from the Royal Danish Academy of Music in 2020 with the performance of the work VÍDDIR, an hour-long work for nine flutes, percussion trio, double bass and electric bass. The work truly marked Gísladóttir's entry onto the international music scene and has subsequently been nominated for the Nordic Council's Music Prize, performed several times around the world and released on an album which, among other things, was highlighted among 'Notable Recordings of the Year' in The New Yorker and described as "It’s hands down one of the most unique, special, haunting and above all stunning pieces of music I’ve heard all year" by music critic Simon Cummings.
Since her debut in 2020, Bára Gísladóttir has received a large number of commissions, and among the premieres of the past year, you will find, among other things, the choral work NAT written for the Danish National Vocal Ensemble, the moon is an eye is a pond and so on and so forth premiered by the Riot Ensemble at the renowned Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival (UK), the orchestral work COR written for the WDR Symphony Orchestra (DE) and the dance performance EVER RÊVE in collaboration with the choreographer Ben J. Riepe. 2023 also featured nominations for The Royal Philharmonic Society Awards, Carl Prisen and Icelandic Music Awards.
In 2024, Bára Gísladóttir will, among other things, have works premiered in connection with the awarding of the Leonie Sonnings Music Prize, where Gísladóttir has written music for the prize winner, and she will have a work premiered by the French ensemble intercontemporain. In addition, an EP has just been released, GROWL POWER with solo works written by Bára Gísladóttir recorded by flutist Björg Brjánsdóttir and later this year Dacapo Records will release an orchestral album with Gísladóttir's works recorded by Iceland's Symphony Orchestra.
The Ernst von Siemens Musikstiftung was established in 1972. The Composer's Award 2024 is awarded to Bára Gísladóttir, the Italian composer Daniele Ghisi and the Chinese composer Yiqing Zhu. The price includes 35,000 euros. The award ceremony will take place on 18 May 2024 in Munich. In addition to the composer prizes, the Ernst von Siemens Music Prize is awarded, which this year goes to the South Korean composer Unsuk Chin.
Find more information about the Ernst von Siemens Musikstiftung here.
Read Tim Rutherford-Johnson's essay about Bára Gísladóttir here.