By Jónas Sen.

Emilíana Torrini’s concert in Eldborg Hall, Harpa, last Saturday evening didn’t get off to the best start. The opening act featured Finnish artist Jaakko Eino Kalevi—why, I’m not entirely sure. Perhaps it was because the event was an “IA 24 partner event,” connected to Iceland Airwaves. And as everyone knows, not everything that glitters is gold in those quarters.

The opening set was utterly lackluster. The music felt clichéd, the vocals flat and uninspiring, and so muffled that it was impossible to make out the lyrics. Mystifying animations projected on the wall above the stage—mostly of cutlery in erratic motion—did little to salvage the performance. Thankfully, the set lasted only about 20 minutes, followed by a twenty-minute intermission. The air around me was buzzing with disgruntled murmurs and disapproving sighs.

A Passion for the Melancholy

But the wait was worth it. Before one of her songs, Emilíana mentioned she was “a sucker for sad songs.” Loving sad songs isn’t exactly an odd obsession, though. Even Rachmaninoff once claimed that music and poetry were sisters, with sorrow as their mother. Indeed, many of the evening’s songs were in minor keys (which evoke a darker tone than major ones), but they were always entrancing and deeply moving.

The New Album

The concert’s centerpiece was Emilíana’s new album, Miss Flower, named after the mother of one of Emilíana’s friends. Upon her passing, a black bag filled with love letters was discovered. Emilíana and her friend delved into the letters, which turned out to be riveting, steamy reading. Geraldine Flower, as she was known, led a remarkably liberated life—never marrying but having numerous lovers. Her most significant relationship was with a high-ranking spy in Ronald Reagan’s administration, a connection that inspired a major part of the concert. All the lyrics were drawn from the letters of these lovers, and the melodies were irresistibly captivating.

A Stellar Band

The atmosphere created by Emilíana’s exceptional band was nothing short of magical. The meanings of the lyrics were often hinted at rather than explicitly delivered, lending an understated sophistication to the music. Beneath the subdued tones, however, there was a powerful undercurrent that kept the audience hypnotized.

The band’s overall performance was refined, rich in nuance, and occasionally surprising. Various solo passages were inspired and memorable.

Rare Musical Alchemy

From a technical perspective, the band was consistently tight and focused. The crowning jewel, of course, was Emilíana’s voice—remarkably beautiful, pure, and bright, yet filled with emotion. The result was a distinctive and rare kind of musical magic.

Emilíana Torrini and her band performed songs from her newly released album, blended with older favorites. The opening act was by Jaakko Eino Kalevi.
Eldborg Hall, Harpa, November 9