Atlantica - 01.03.2001, Qupperneq 16

14 A T L A N T I C A
This was the first time that Ashkenazy had conducted the
Symphony Orchestra in 22 years, but, despite this gap, he has
maintained these strong connections with Iceland. The most
obvious explanation for this is that his wife, Sóffia Jóhanns-
dóttir, is Icelandic. However, Ashkenazy’s ties with Iceland, are
not merely obligatory, and he speaks most positively of this land
that was home to him for ten years.
Ashkenazy’s involvement with music here has peppered the last
four decades, making him one of the nation’s most valued
friends. He took some time out from a busy schedule to tell
Jennifer McCormack about his commitment to what he calls
“serious” music.
What kind of changes have you perceived on this
island, and in this society, on your visits throughout
the years?
The first time I came to Iceland it was the Christmas of 1963. It
was very dark around this time, and I didn’t see much. Over the
years, though, I have visited a lot and, of course, I lived here for
ten years. What I have seen, is tremendous prosperity. Everyone
works, or at least almost everyone, and they work very hard and
effectively too. They are very honest people and efficient. I like
this because I am hard-working myself.
Also, Reykjavík is much greener than it was 20 years ago. A lot
of trees and bushes have been planted and the contrast is
tremendous.
Which artists (in the widest sense of the word) or politi-
cal figures have influenced you most?
Lots of artists have influenced me. Many composers and many
performers, and I don’t want to single out just one or two. I am
a very discriminative person, and I can’t be influenced by just
one figure. It is only a part of a personality that one enjoys. I
believe that nature and life give a lot of gifts and talents to a lot
of individuals, and you see what appeals to you from all that. You
take what is important and essential, and you absorb that. You
take what is good and reject the flaws. We are all very imperfect
beings. Even Beethoven composed something that wasn’t that
great.
Politician’s usually don’t interest me. Most have an agenda for
power and then do things that are contrary to what people want.
When there have been some that really want to do something that
is humane and good for people, they usually lose power, because
somehow this contradicts the instinct for power.
My attitude towards politics is that I take it with a tremendous
degree of scepticism. There can be figures who are genuinely
involved for the citizens, and try to do something positive, but, so
often, people become prisoners of their own party policy. I have
seen this happen so many times. The worst example is, of course,
communism, which destroyed itself through this as you know. But
even in the west, ideology and party politics destroy common
sense. No ideology is one hundred per cent comprehensive and
all-embracing. One should look around and take influences from
all around.
If you were to use one sentence to describe the predomi-
nant features of the Icelandic personality, what would it
be?
I can’t use one sentence. I don’t like to give slogans or a headline...
it would trivialise the subject.
Have you ever composed music in your dreams?
No I have never composed.
Have you never even made up a tune in your head and
hummed it on your way along the street?
There are so many great composers. I would rather hum one of
their melodies than a mediocre tune of my own.
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Photos by Páll Stefánsson
Serious Music
In January, the conductor of the Czech Republic Philharmonic Orchestra, and
internationally revered concert pianist, Vladimir Ashkenazy, took the helm of
the Icelandic Symphony Orchestra as it scaled the seas of
Shostakovich and Mahler.
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