Robert Thorpe – Rödd náttúrunnar / A Guest in Nature

10.04.25
Rafstöðin Elliðaárstöð
kl. 19:30

Flytjendur
Performed by Polar Institute ensemble and choir.

Polar Institute:
Jón G. Breiðfjörð Álfgeirsson – drums
Jóhannes Guðjónsson – piano
Sigurður Halldórsson – cello
Símon Karl Melsteð – clarinet
Anna Tabaczynska – flute
Rob Thorpe – electric guitar

Robert Thorpe
MMus í Sköpun, miðlun og frumkvöðlastarfi – NAIP

Rödd náttúrunnar / A Guest in Nature is a new piece for choir and hybrid classical/jazz group that plays with themes of our place in nature and anxiety over climate breakdown. 

The text is drawn from several sources including Gunnar Gunnarsson’s novel Guest the One Eyed (first published in 1912 as Borgslægtens historie), Andri Snær Magnason‘s memoral text to the deceased glacier Ok and other found-texts, hymn text and data.

The piece is presented alongside new arrangements of music by Judd Greenstein (USA) and Esbjörn Svensson (SWE). 

A Guest in Nature marks a development of the music Polar Institute has been making in different combinations since 2015, further blurring the genre lines of classical vocal music and rhythmic improvisation.

Rödd náttúrunnar / A Guest in Nature :

Rob Thorpe (GB) has been working as a guitarist, composer and band leader of Polar Institute since 2013. Originally working with metal bands and free improvisation, Rob started to compose concert music inspired by 20th century classical composers and is now most interested in combining these strands to make a cohesive engaging hybrid language.

Rob’s ties to Iceland began in 2017 with a residency at Gunnar Gunnarsson Institute at Skriðuklastur, Eastern Iceland. Several projects have developed from this work in the years since, culminating with this extended piece for choir.

Polar Institute is an evolving ensemble exploring the language of neoclassical, progressive and jazz music, centred around the core of piano and guitar. The group has produced three albums in various combinations from quartet to sextet, most recently Songs from Skriðuklaustur in 2024..