Jóhann Jóhannsson - Piano Works (Alice Sara Ott)

Information

Composer: Jóhann Jóhannsson

1. Bað
2. Odi et Amo/Krókódíll
3. Englabörn
4. Jói & Karen
5. Flugeldar II (From "Dís")
6. Já, Hemmi Minn (From "Dís")
7. Ruslpóstur (From "Dís")
8. The Sun’s Gone Dim and the Sky’s Turned Black
9. Melodia (iii)
10. Theme (From "Varmints")
11. Dressing Up (From "Personal Effects")
12. Linda & Walter (From "Personal Effects")
13. Indian Wedding (From "Personal Effects")
14. He Says It’s The Future (From "Copenhagen Dreams")
15. Eleven Thousand Six Hundred and Sixty-Nine Died of Natural Causes (From "Copenhagen Dreams")
16. Flight from the City
17. Innocence (From "Free the Mind")
18. Will’s Story I (From "Free the Mind")
19. Time to Say Goodbye (From "White Black Boy")
20. Payphone (From "McCanick")
21. A Game of Croquet (From "The Theory of Everything")
22. A Model of the Universe (From "The Theory of Everything")
23. The Theory of Everything (From "The Theory of Everything")
24. Beauty (From "Blind Massage")
25. A Sparrow Alighted Upon Our Shoulder
26. By The Roes, And By The Hinds Of The Field
27. Good Morning, Midnight
28. The Drowned World
29. The Radiant City
30. Be Over (From "The Shadow Play")

Alice Sara Ott, piano

Date: 2026

Label: Deutsche Grammophon (DG)

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On this album, pianist Alice Sara Ott presents world premiere recordings of piano transcriptions of works by the late Icelandic composer Jóhann Jóhannsson, including music from his film scores and studio albums such as Orphée and Englabörn. Although Ott never met Jóhannsson, she long admired his music and consulted several of his friends and collaborators while preparing the project, gaining deeper insight into his artistic approach. Her interpretations aim to capture the haunting beauty and emotional depth of his compositions. Translated from larger ensembles to the piano, the works reveal new intimacy, clarity, and subtle detail. The album is available digitally, on CD, and on vinyl, alongside two related digital EP releases.

Jóhann Jóhannsson (1969–2018) was a highly influential Icelandic composer known for blending classical, minimalist, ambient, and electronic elements into a distinctive musical language. Born in Reykjavík, he was largely self-taught and initially played in bands before focusing on composition. His debut solo album Englabörn (2002) revealed his talent for creating atmospheric soundscapes using both acoustic and electronic instruments. Later studio albums further developed his experimental style, while his film scores—particularly for The Theory of Everything, Prisoners, Sicario, and Arrival—brought international acclaim and major award nominations. After his death at age 48, his legacy continued through posthumous releases and his influential recorded catalogue.

Alice Sara Ott (born August 1, 1988) is a German-Japanese pianist known for her visionary artistry, technical brilliance, and innovative approach to classical music. A former student of Karl-Heinz Kämmerling at the Salzburg Mozarteum, she has won multiple international competitions and recorded for Deutsche Grammophon for over 15 years, achieving more than 500 million streams. In the 2024–25 season, Ott performs with major orchestras including the London Symphony and Bayerischer Rundfunk, and tours internationally with Bryce Dessner’s Piano Concerto. She releases two albums in 2025: John Field’s complete nocturnes and piano works by Jóhann Jóhannsson, the latter recorded in Iceland.