Various Artists

From intimate piano miniatures to cinematic, ambient-leaning compositions, neoclassical and modern classical music have redefined how we listen over the past two decades. This selection brings together ten albums that continue to shape the sound, language and atmosphere of the genre today.

Minimal music laid the foundation for today’s neoclassical and modern classical sound. From Steve Reich to Philip Glass, this movement redefined composition through repetition, rhythm and space, and continues to shape artists such as Ludovico Einaudi and Jóhann Jóhannsson.

Neoclassical piano music has become one of the defining sounds of modern classical music, blending minimal structures with a contemporary, often cinematic sensibility. While the genre extends beyond a single instrument, the piano remains at its core - capable of carrying both intimacy and scale in equal measure.

Iceland has become one of the most important centres for neoclassical and modern classical music. Artists such as Jóhann Jóhannsson and Ólafur Arnalds have shaped a distinct sound that blends minimalism, ambient textures and cinematic composition. Here are five essential albums that define the Icelandic scene.