AEF2026: Víkingur Ólafsson

This June marks a poignant milestone in Athenian venue history. Before the legendary Odeon of Herodes Atticus falls silent for a multi-year restoration, the Athens Epidaurus Festival presents the 'Farewell Festivities'. It is the last chance to catch a performance under the stars before the "ancient shell" is tucked away for its essential makeover.
The legacy of the two Romans, Emperor Hadrian and Herodes Atticus, redefined the architectural and cultural landscape of Athens. Upon ascending the throne in 117 AD, Hadrian became a visionary patron who inspired the young Herodes Atticus to dedicate his immense wealth to the city's public works. Together, they gifted Athens monumental landmarks that remain iconic today: Herodes oversaw the complete reconstruction of the Panathenaic Stadium in marble by 143 AD and later, in 161 AD, gifted the city this magnificent, then cedar-roofed Odeon on the southern slope of the Acropolis.  Their shared vision continues to pulse through the capital’s modern identity. These historic sites remain some of the most breathtaking places we still gather under the Athenian sky.

The Farewell Festivities open with the "Icelandic Glenn Gould." Víkingur Ólafsson making his long-awaited Greek debut with a programme that feels more like a scientific experiment than a standard recital. Centred on his 2025 release Opus 109, Ólafsson leans into his synaesthesia to paint the marble tiers in "shades of green" through the key of E. At the heart of the evening is Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No. 30, which the pianist places in a captivating dialogue with J.S. Bach and Schubert.
This is an urban takeover of the senses. Ólafsson is famous for stripping away the "library catalogue" stiffness of classical music, opting instead for a 19th-century improvisational fire that makes every note feel like it's being discovered for the first time. As the first performance of our final season before the restoration, it’s a brilliant shout for anyone wanting to see how the past can be radically reimagined.