Sigur Rós in concert at Salle Pleyel in Paris: we were there, we tell you all about it

When we think ofIceland, we inevitably think of the lunar landscapes of this marvellous North Atlantic gem, with its glaciers, waterfalls, geysers and western fjords. But there's more to Iceland than its breathtaking scenery. The country is also culturally rich, with thriller writers read in every corner of the globe. And then, of course, there's music, a discipline so important to Icelanders. Björk is undeniably one of the world's best-known artists, but so is Sigur Rós. For over 30 years now, this atmospheric post-rock band has been sending shivers down our spines.

In France, Sigur Rós ' success continues unabated. For many years now, the combo - now made up of Jónsi, Georg Hólm and Kjartan Sveinsson (following the departure of Orri Páll Dýrason in 2022) - has been playing a series of concerts in France, notably in Paris (Zénith, Grand Rex...). In July 2023, the Scandinavians were at the Philharmonie de Paris as part of the Days Off festival for a symphonic concert alongside the London Contemporary Orchestra. An orchestral concept that seems to have seduced both the band and their fans, as the Icelandic trio has continued this"Orchestral Tour" ever since. After shows in the U.S., Australia, Japan and Northern Europe, Sigur Rós returns to France, this time with no less than three sold-out performances at the Salle Pleyel in Paris on Friday 26, Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 September 2025. We attended the first of these concerts, and tell you all about it.

For this comeback in Paris, the scenography has not changed and remains identical to that proposed at the Philharmonie de Paris. A good thing, since we really appreciated the twenty or so flickering light bulbs on stage, adding a poetic touch to the show. At around 8.05pm, we find the Icelandic band coiled up in the middle of some thirty musicians, placed in the center of the Salle Pleyel stage. However, for this new tour, Sigur Rós has decided to work with different orchestras in each city. In Paris, theOrchestre Lamoureux, which has already worked with Keren Ann and Bernard Lavilliers, is in charge. British conductor Robert Ames will be on hand throughout the tour.

• To be read
• Sigur Rós: the setlist for their concert at Salle Pleyel in Paris
• Sigur Rós in concert at the Salle Pleyel in Paris in September 2025
• Rock music: the next must-see concerts in Paris

Once in place, Sigur Rós and the orchestra's musicians soon put us under their spell with the sublime " Blóðberg ", taken from"Átta", the combo's 8th studio opus, released in June 2023. The journey continues with " Ekki múkk ", taken from"Valtari", followed by " Fljótavík ", " 8 ", " Von " and " Andvari ", taken from the essential"Takk...". The mood is further heightened by the first notes of the heart-rending " Starálfur ".

The re-orchestrations are sublime and masterful. And the percussion, strings (violins, cellos, double basses) and brass instruments are emotionally charged. Of course, the falsetto voice of Sigur Rós leader Jónsi only adds to the intensity of this timeless moment. Although he tends to close his eyes on stage and remain more or less static behind his microphone, Jónsi is one of those artists endowed with an incredible gift: that of bewitching us as soon as the first notes leave his mouth. In his voice, there's melancholy, darkness and a faint glimmer of hope. Armed with his guitar and his trusty archer, the singer and musician succeeds in transporting us far, far away, thanks to his ethereal voice, hoarse at times. Once again, the Sigur Rós singer moves us, and even manages to draw a few tears from us on " Untitled #1 - Vaka ", the first track played during the second half of the set.

The rest is just as beautiful and poignant, with the vibrant instrumental " Untitled #3 - Samskeyti ", followed by " Skel ", " Untitled #5 - Álafoss " and, of course, the sublime " Hoppípolla " in its orchestral version. The 2h15 set (including an intermission) comes to a close with " Avalon ", performed that evening only by the Lamoureux orchestra. Sigur Rós then decided to return to the stage, not to play an extra track, but to salute (twice) his audience, who were on their feet and truly won over.

Beautiful, poignant and bewitching, Sigur Rós hit the nail on the head with this"Orchestral Tour", proving that the Icelandic band can still move us, more than 30 years after their debut. The only disappointment was that the setlist was identical to the one played at the Philharmonie de Paris in July 2023. We would have liked to have heard a few other songs revisited for the occasion with the Lamoureux orchestra.

Sigur Rós: the setlist for their concert at Salle Pleyel in Paris
Parisian fans of Sigur Rós are in luck. The famous Icelandic post-rock band will be at the Salle Pleyel for three concerts, to be experienced on September 26, 27 and 28, 2025. We attended the first of these three Sigur Rós shows in Paris. This is our chance to reveal the setlist played for the occasion in the company of the Orchestre Lamoureux! [Read more]