Pascal Pinon on PBS

My favorite Icelandic musical twins, Jófríður and Ásthildur Ákadóttir, have made the big time, being featured on the PBS show Great Performances, shown performing with host Scott Yoo in an Icelandic turf house.

The show is beautifully shot and in addition to the musical segments there is a lot of Icelandic scenery and culture: it could have easily been two hours; or four; or even a miniseries!

Twenty-six years ago I started my Iceland obsession with Halldór Laxness’ great novel Independent People, the story of a crofter living in a turf house. Sixteen years ago I discovered Jófríður and her sister Ásthildur and the simple, honest music they made in Pascal Pinon. Now I can see them playing one of their songs in a turf house on national TV.

The circle is complete.