Tuesday, 4 February at 12 We welcome you to the first lunchtime concert of 2025 at Hafnarborg, where... Johann Smári Sævarsson guest Antonia Hevesi, pianist and artistic director of the concert series.

Johann Smári Sævarsson He undertook postgraduate studies in singing at the joint opera department of the Royal College of Music and the Royal Academy of Music in London. After graduating, Jóhann signed as a soloist with the Cologne Opera, where he was for three years. He then spent four years under contract with the opera in Regensburg, and has also sung as a guest singer at numerous opera houses in Europe. In his career, Jóhann has sung operatic roles in almost ninety opera productions. His concert repertoire includes both Requiem by Verdi and Mozart, 9th Symphony Beethoven's and Eighth Symphony Mahler's.

Jóhann Smári was nominated for the Icelandic Music Awards as Voice of the Year 2010, for his interpretation of The Passion of Hallgrímur Sigurður Sævarsson and Winter journey Schuberts. In 2008, Jóhann also received an artist's grant for one year and again in 2023 for 6 months. As a conductor, Jóhann has conducted performances of the operas Cunning Little Vixen by Janáček and The Marriage of Figaro by Mozart. Johann also conducted a performance of Requiem by Verdi with the Northern Lights Festival Choir in 2023, and Jóhann Smári is the artistic director of the Northern Lights Opera Company.

Antonia Hevesi, a pianist, has been the artistic director of the lunchtime concerts at Hafnarborg since their inception, and they have been a regular feature of the museum's programme since 2003. There, Antonía has been joined by many of the country's leading singers, with the aim of the concerts being to give visitors the opportunity to enjoy live music at their leisure. The lunchtime concerts are usually held on the first Tuesday of each month during the winter season.

The concert starts at 12 noon and will last for about half an hour. The venue opens at 11:30 am and the concert is open to all, subject to capacity. Admission is free.