The Iceland Symphony Orchestra (ISO) announces the appointment of Barbara Hannigan as their Chief Conductor and Artistic Director for an initial period of three seasons, beginning in August 2026. Hannigan's first role as Chief Conductor will involve her collaboration with the Icelandic orchestra for a minimum of 6 subscription weeks per season, in addition to tours and recordings. As Artistic Director, she will also make an important contribution to the orchestra's innovative programming.
"Always curious, courageous and creative, the musicians of the ISO are committed to working at the highest level. Their technical excellence goes hand in hand with their great imagination. Working with the ISO, I felt for the first time the desire and the possibility to consider a position as Chief Conductor. It is a matter of creative chemistry and collective timing that moves us to embark together on this new path." - Barbara Hannigan
"Barbara Hannigan is unique and we cannot wait to work more with such an outstanding artist, to perform the innovative programmes she is known for and to be part of her unique expression. The first time she took the podium to conduct our orchestra, we all felt something exceptional and unique in the air. The experience of the trust between her and the musicians and how they create and go on adventures together is extraordinarily inspiring. We are grateful and honoured to be the first orchestra to appoint Barbara Hannigan as Chief Conductor and Artistic Director. We know that she will significantly influence the orchestra, our audience and Icelandic cultural life in the coming years." - Lára Sóley Jóhannsdóttir, General Director ISO
Previous collaborations
Barbara conducted the Iceland Symphony Orchestra for the first time in spring 2022, with an impressive debut at the Reykjavík Arts Festival featuring Charles Ives' The Unanswered Question, Arnold Schönberg's Verklärte Nacht, Alban Berg's Suite from Lulu, and George Gershwin's Girl Crazy Suite (arr. Bill Elliott). In June 2023, Barbara Hannigan and the Iceland Symphony Orchestra presented a programme of three compelling compositions, in which Hannigan's lyricism and playfulness were equally showcased, both in her singing and her conducting: Haydn's Symphony No. 96 in D major, Mahler's Symphony No. 4 and the world premiere of Golfam Khayam's I am not a tale to be told. They joined forces again in April 2024 when they performed Francis Poulenc's La Voix humaine alongside Strauss' Metamorphosen.