Viktor Orri Árnason is a conductor with a focus on modern, experimental, and film music.
He brings a distinctive sonic sensitivity to his work, shaped by his background as a composer and his deep interest in the the recording world.
Viktor’s conducting is guided by an artistic philosophy rooted in a microscopic vision of the essence of sound—an approach that seeks clarity, depth, and emotional resonance in even the smallest musical details captured through recordings. His work bridges classical refinement with contemporary experimentation, shaped by years of experience navigating the territories between concert music, film, and studio production.
He has led ensembles including Reykjavík Orkestra, the Budapest Art Orchestra, the Iceland Symphony Orchestra, and film orchestras around the world, bringing a precise yet imaginative musical perspective to every project he undertakes.
Conducting projects
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Reykjavík Orkestra
Viktor serves as the artistic director and conductor of the Reykjavík Orkestra, shaping its identity through a rare blend of classical refinement and studio artistry. Educated at the Hanns Eisler School in Berlin, Viktor is recognized for his visionary approach: merging the expressive depth of orchestral writing with experimental textures, modern production techniques, and a deeply personal musical language.
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Björk at Harpa, Reykjavík
Viktor was invited to conduct two series of concerts with Björk and a string ensemble from the Icelandic Symphony Orchestra at Harpa, Reykjavík in 2021. The shows were globally live-streamed.
Photo by Santiago Felipe. -
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Adrift score by Hauschka
Academy Award-nominated composer Hauschka (Volker Bertelmann) composed the original score to Adrift., which he asked Viktor to orchestrate and conduct. This is one of many collaborations, including the scores for Downhill, Summerland and Als Hitler das Rosa Kaninchen stahl.
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Mary Magdalene score by Hildur Guðnadóttir & Jóhann Jóhannsson
Recorded in Air Studios, Mary Magdalene is one of several collaborations which Viktor conducted for Jóhann Jóhannsson & Hildur Guðnadóttir. It won the Asia Pacific Screen Awards in 2018 for Best Original Score. Other works include Last and First Men and Sicario: Day of the Soldado.
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Ólafur Arnalds at Sydney Opera House
For this special performance at Sydney Opera house, Ólafur Arnalds asked Viktor to create the arrangements and conduct the ensemble. Watch the full performance here.
Reykjavík Orkestra
The Reykjavík Orkestra is a contemporary ensemble formed by leading musicians from the world’s northernmost capital. Uniting orchestral virtuosity with a distinctly modern approach to sound design, the orchestra occupies a unique space in today’s musical landscape. Operating out of the award-winning Harpa Concert Hall, the ensemble records in three state-of-the-art halls, each offering a different acoustic palette — from the warmth of Eldborg, to the transparency of Norðurljós (Aurora Hall), to the intimacy of Kaldalón.
Known for its refined musicianship, bold aesthetic, and technical excellence, the orchestra collaborates widely across genres: from contemporary classical projects to film and television scores, premium game audio, and experimental studio recordings. With world-class engineering, vintage microphones, immersive monitoring, and seamless remote-session capability, the Reykjavík Orkestra has become a trusted creative partner for artists, composers, and studios around the globe.