On Thursday, February 8 at 7:30 p.m., Icelandic pianist Víkingur Ólafsson will perform at Richardson Auditorium on the campus of Princeton University. Ólafsson left a stunning debut impression with Princeton’s audiences when he performed during the 2022-2023 Princeton University Concert season.

J.S. Bach is especially close to the musician’s heart. Specifically, his album of the composer’s music for the Deutsche Grammophon label won both Best Instrumental Album and Album of the Year at the 2019 BBC Music Magazine Awards.

“When you open a score of Bach’s music, a paradox immediately reveals itself: the music is incredibly rich and strikingly sparse,” Ólafsson shares. “The musical structures are very detailed, but there are hardly any indications as to how you should go about shaping them … it is simply unavoidable for the performer not to become something of a co-creator.”

General admission is $35-60. Student admission is $15. All Princeton University students are free. To purchase tickets online, visit concerts.princeton.edu/events/23-24-vikingur-olafsson/.