Classic French Music on Culture Night

On the occasion of Culture Night and the exhibition “A View of the North”, currently on display in the Engine Room of the Reykjavík Maritime Museum, French melodies will echo through the museum on 23 August at 18:00-20:00. Admission is free and everyone is welcome.
The musical duo Ásþór and Svavar will take the stage and perform French popular songs in the relation to the exhibition “A View of the North” in the Engine Room. The exhibition explores Arctic expeditions by French travelers and is a collaborative project between the Reykjavík City Museum and the School of Humanities at the University of Iceland. In May 1835, French military doctor and adventurer Paul Gaimard arrived in Reykjavík in search of the ship La Lilloise, but was captivated by the country and its people. He led the largest foreign scientific expedition ever to Iceland, accompanied by scholars and artists who studied the culture, society, and nature of the country during 1835–1836. The results were published in 12 volumes, which became an important source on 19th-century Iceland and had a profound impact on both the country’s image and the Icelanders’ self-identity. Ásþór and Svavar met at the Icelandic Music College, where they studied in the rhythmic program. They have performed widely, both as a guitar and saxophone duo and in larger bands, including Jazz þjónustan (The Jazz Service), which they founded in 2019. They play a diverse range of music for various occasions with great flair. The event is part of the Reykjavík City Museum’s varied Menningarnótt program. The Maritime Museum is easily accessible, and guide dogs are welcome.