Stand and Turn to Stone

Gather close and step into the mysterious, enchanted world of Icelandic folklore. Stand and Turn to Stone revives the ancient tradition of gathering to share tales that are exciting, frightening, and funny. Through a vivid sensory experience, audiences are introduced to talking animals, ghosts, trolls, elves, and hidden people from Iceland’s rich cultural heritage. Actor and storyteller Ólafur Egill Egilsson guides the audience through the performance, leading a joyful communal sing-along where music serves as the ultimate connecting force. By intertwining majestic orchestral arrangements with storytelling and classic imagery, this production transforms ancient folklore into a living, breathing artistic encounter that sparks creative thinking and imagination in young listeners. This immersive, multi-disciplinary performance is a unique collaboration produced between the Iceland Symphony Orchestra and the National Gallery of Iceland, which also hosted a matching parallel art exhibition.