by Yulia Berry

It was not easy to find time in the busy schedule of Stefán Ragnar Höskuldsson, soloist of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, but finally we met for a conversation and I was able to ask some questions that have been burning me.

Yulia: Dear Stefán, thank you for finding time for this interview to answer some questions for our readers at The Babel Flute magazine.

Before we start I would like to say Happy Birthday to you from all of us and wish you the very best and happiest things in life! What a wonderful coincidence that your birthday and the first edition of The Babel Flute happen to be on the same day – June 20th!

Stefán: Thank you very much!

Yulia: During the pandemic you played Mozart Quartet for flute and strings, K.285 in the online episode of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. It literally took my breath away! I remember that I had to stop doing everything I did at the moment, sat down and couldn’t move or breathe. It was striking. I have never heard such perfect Mozart from a flutist before. In my opinion, Mozart is one of the hardest composers to perform and I want to thank you for the incredible experience you gave me. I felt being transformed in my heart, where something magical happened at that moment.