Photo: Ditte M. Joensen
BEINTA is a symphonic song-cycle written by Anna Katrin Øssursdóttir Egilstrøð and Allan Gravgaard Madsen, who explore and combine sonorities from contemporary classical music and alternative pop accompanied by the raw, atmospheric work of Faroese film duo RAMMATIK.
Aarhus Symphony Orchestra and Egilstrøð herself premiered 'BEINTA' 30 April 2016 at SPOT Festival, and now they pick the piece up once again for a performance on 27 April 2019.
The title of the work is also the name of a legendary 18th-century femme fatale of the Faroe Islands. Beinta (also known as Barbara) was a figure of great contrasts, as untamed as the fierce nature around her. With her story as a source of inspiration, the two composers delved into a more general exploration of human darkness and longing.
The work was very well received by the critics who called it "poignantly beautiful", "magnificent" and "gloomy and compelling".
Allan Gravgaard Madsen is composer in residence by Aarhus Symphony Orchestra and besides from the performance of BEINTA, the upcoming seasons will feature new works by Gravgaard Madsen.
Read more about the upcoming performance of BEINTA here.