The Icelandic post-rock luminaries Sigur Rós performed two special concerts in Tallinn next autumn. On September 19 and 20, in 2025, one of the most acclaimed groups of recent times gave two performances at the Alexela Concert Hall, presenting their latest studio album Átta together with the extended lineup of the Tallinn Chamber Orchestra. These appearances were part of their EU/UK orchestral tour.
Founded in 1994, Sigur Rós (meaning ‘Victory Rose’ and named after lead singer and co-founder Jón “Jónsi” Þór Birgisson’s baby sister), are renowned for their unique ethereal sound with lush layers of slow-churning grandeur, and Jónsi’scharacteristic falsetto. They have released eight studio albums, including their breakthrough full-length Ágætis byrjun (1999), whch cheerleaders included both the music press tastemakers as well as Radiohead and David Bowie; ( ) (2002), Takk (2005) and Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust (2008).
The band’s first new studio album in ten years, Átta (2023) is their most intimate and emotionally direct record to date., touching everything that has made Sigur Rós one of the most ambitious and acclaimed bands, with close to ten million albums sold, whilst signposting an exciting possibility for their future. On Átta, strings, keyboards and vocals swell to dramatic heights, while subtle melodies look inward for release. Átta prominently features the London Contemporary Orchestra and is mixed by Paul Corley (Oneohtrix Point Never, Tim Hecker), travelling between the familiar and the unknown, luxurious string cascades and silence, Jónsi’s high-flying falsetto and bittersweet introspections in made-up Vonlenska (Hopelandic) lingo.
Jónsi calls the album “heavy but hopeful” and admits it was written in the shadow of the pandemic and the war in Ukraine, yet with rays of pure golden light in the darkness.
2025 continued to be a special year for the band, with their seminal album Takk reaching its 20th anniversary.
Sigur Rós’ only previous performance in Estonia took place at the sold-out Rock Café in 2008.
Two concerts at Alexela Concert Hall were performed by the current band members Jón “Jónsi” Þór Birgisson (vocals, guitar), multi-intstrumentalist Kjartan “Kjarri” Sveinsson and bassist Georg “Goggi” Hólm, accompanied by a 41-piece extended ensemble of the Tallinn Chamber Orchestra (TCO).
TCO is a Grammy-winning collective, founded in 1993 by the conductor Tõnu Kaljuste. During the past three decades it has become one of Estonia’s signature orchestras and a welcome guest performer on numerous stages in Europe and beyond. TCO have gained recognition for its artistic concepts and mastery of interpretation. Their recordings, released often via the acclaimed ECM label, include the interpretation of Arvo Pärt’s Te Deum, which remained in the top ten of the global contemporary classical chart for a year.
Other orchestras the band have collaborated include London Contemporary Orchestra (LCO), Taiwan National Symphony Orchestra, Resound Collective, Brisbane Philharmonic and Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. This tour saw Sigur Rós playing in some of the world’s most iconic orchestral venues that include London’s Royal Albert Hall, Rome’s Sala Santa Cecilia, Paris’ Salle Playel, Brussels’ Bozar and the Konzerthaus in Vienna.
Sigur Rós’ concerts in Tallinn were promoted by Shiftworks.
Photos from both concerts.
Press quotes about Átta and Sigur Rós live:
“Sigur Rós add some pure and natural soul to this cold and unfeeling world” – 4*, NME
“An ethereal, celestial symphonia” – 4*, MOJO
“ÁTTA is a tender and consoling piece of work that seems to extend a healing hand to the listener” – The Guardian
“Sigur Rós have managed to take the bleakness and melancholy and turn it into something celestial and uplifting” – Rolling Stone UK
