The 3-piece solo piano release Johann Jóhannsson: Piano Works – From Englabörn by Alice Sara Ott, is an intimate emotional journey. One that unfolds slowly and deliberately, resisting spectacle in favor of depth. The album opens with “Bað,” a deeply sentimental piece that begins almost in a whisper. Its pacing is patient, fragile, and inward-looking. The music breathes. Gradually, it reaches a restrained climax, shaped by cascading soft notes that never force themselves forward. There is no grand gesture here, only a quiet emotional inevitability. The climax feels earned precisely because it remains delicate.
The second piece, “Odi et Amo / Krókódíll,” moves further into the realm of ambience. Silence is not merely present in this track ,it is central. It functions as material, as structure, as meaning. As Arvo Pärt famously said,
“Music must exist in silence.”
In this performance, that philosophy is not quoted, but lived. Alice Sara Ott understands that this piece is not about what is played, but about what is left unplayed. The pauses carry weight; the space between sounds feels intentional, almost sacred. Her characteristic piano timbre, classical, muted, and introspective, becomes an essential part of the atmosphere. It allows the piece to hover, unresolved, suspended in time.
The final track, “Englabörn,” closes the release with a darker, more somber tone. Still soft in texture, still restrained, it gradually pulls the listener inward through repetition and subtle harmonic shifts. The recurring notes act like a slow spiral, drawing the listener deeper rather than pushing outward. There is melancholy here, but never despair — only a quiet gravity, a sense of emotional gravity that settles rather than overwhelms.
Taken as a whole, the album feels complete despite its brevity. It is a small form with a large emotional radius. Beyond its musical qualities, it is refreshing, and frankly necessary, to hear a new classical release by a world-renowned pianist that is not jus another return to the predictable canon of Chopin, Beethoven, Bach, or Mozart, or other household names of the classical music. This is contemporary music, performed by contemporary musicians, without apology. That alone gives the album a sense of hope.
The Composer: Jóhann Jóhannsson
Jóhann Jóhannsson was a composer who moved effortlessly between worlds: concert music, electronics, and film, without ever diluting his voice. His music is built on restraint, repetition, and emotional clarity. Englabörn, originally released in 2002, stands as one of his most personal works, a place where minimalism meets melancholy, and structure meets vulnerability. What makes Jóhannsson’s writing endure is its honesty. He never overstates emotion; he allows it to surface naturally, trusting the listener to meet the music halfway.
The Performer: Alice Sara Ott
Alice Sara Ott’s performance throughout this release is marked by maturity and deep listening. She resists the temptation to “interpret” too loudly. Instead, she inhabits the music from within. Her touch is controlled, intimate, and transparent, allowing Jóhannsson’s harmonic language to speak clearly. Ott has long positioned herself as a pianist unafraid of contemporary repertoire, and this release reinforces that artistic stance. She does not treat these works as curiosities or side projects, she treats them as essential music.
Johann Jóhannsson: Piano Works – From Englabörn is a statement. It reminds us that classical music is not a museum, but a living language, and that silence, when handled with care, can speak louder than sound.
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