The Hallgrimskirkja Friends of the Arts Society is happy to announce that on March 19th and 20th the talented organist of Storkyrkan church in Stockholm, Mattias Wager, will perform in Hallgrimskirkja.

At Saturday’s concert Wager will perform Sergei Prokovief´s Peter and the Wolf with the assistance of actress Halldora Geirhardsdottir, known for her lively performances with the Icelandic Symphony Orchestra. It is the third time Matthias performs this piece in Iceland and we’ve always had a full church and a most enjoyable concert. The concert starts at 2 pm and admittance is free for children accompanied by adults. Tickets are 2500 ISK.

On Sunday, Wager performs Marcel Dupre´s Le chemin de la croix or Stations of the Cross along with actress Solveig Simha that reads Paul Claudel´s poem the work is based upon in french. Stations of the Cross consists of 14 contemplations on the places where Christ halted during his march to Golgata. Admittance is 2500 ISK.

The organ virtuoso Mattias Wager has been a frequent guest in Hallgrimskirkja ever since the consecration of the Klais-organ and his vivid performances have contributed greatly to the music life in the church.

Tickets at midi.is and at Hallgrímskirkja tlf. 510 1000.

Mattias Wager was born in Stockholm in 1967.  He studied Organ and Church Music at the Royal College of Music.  His tutors were Torvald Torén (interpretation), Mats Åberg (baroque-interpretation) and Anders Bondeman (improvisation). For his debut recital in 1992 he was awarded the medal of the Royal College of Music. He has also studied abroad with Johannes Geffert in Bonn and in Paris with Naji Hakim.

Among his achievements in international competitions are included three first prizes:  in the 1995 Organ Interpretation Competition is St Albans, England, and in the improvisation competitions in 1991 in Strängnäs, Sweden and 1995 in Paris (Grand Prix d’improvisation „Pierre Cochereau“).

Mattias Wager gives concert performances at festivals and other prestigeous venues throughout Europe and has also given several concerts in Brazil. He has also been teaching organ and improvisation at the Music Colleges in Piteå, Malmö and Gothenburg and the Royal College of Music in Stockholm.  Since 2006, he has served in the Stockholm Cathedral (Storkyrkan) where he was recently appointed Cathedral Organist. He

combines this with regular concert tours and giving master-classes in Sweden and abroad. As a regular guest on the Icelandic organ scene,Mattias Wager has been teaching and performing extensively since 1995. Mattias Wager cooperates with other artists, for example percussionist Anders Åstrand and singer/choirmaster Gary Graden, to form an outstanding trio focusing on improvisation.  He has also composed music for several successful theatre plays.