Utrecht, The Netherlands – Even without releasing new music since her 2020 album Myopia, Danish neoclassical sensation Agnes Obel effortlessly sold out TivoliVredenburg’s main hall. Tonight’s additional show was also completely sold out, proving once again the enduring magic of her music. From the outset, the atmosphere felt different: instead of the usual pre-show background music, the sound of birdsong filled the hall, as if the audience had stepped into a forest while waiting for the lights to dim.
With no opening act, all attention was fixed on Obel and her band. Dressed entirely in white, they stepped onto the stage and opened with “Red Virgin Soil”. The concert began in subtle fashion: a plain white backdrop behind the musicians, their silhouettes cast sharply against it. During “Fuel to Fire” —still one of my personal favorites—and “Camera’s Rolling”, the stage was bathed in red light, the shifting shadows amplifying the songs’ ominous undertones.
Then came the first new piece of the evening, “Laymelli”. With its electronic textures and a more pronounced rhythmic drive from the drummer, it felt refreshing but still unmistakably Agnes Obel. Dreamlike visuals projected onto the backdrop added to the hypnotic spell.
Her voice and music held the hall in such complete silence that it almost seemed no one dared move, let alone speak. After “Run Cried the Crawling”, Obel even asked if the audience was doing alright—a small, almost shy moment that underlined just how captivated everyone was.
“It’s Happening Again” began delicately but swelled with intensity during the chorus. It was beautiful, though I found myself missing the presence of a live violin during this show, which had added so much depth on earlier tours. New songs “Faustian Deal” and “Gemini” also made their appearance, and judging by the reactions around me, they were already being embraced warmly. Still, Obel gave nothing away about when a new album might be expected, leaving us guessing for now.
Her band this time brought together a wonderfully diverse lineup: Julian Sartorius on drums and percussion, Hinako Omori on synthesizers and electronics, and cellist Marie-Claire Schlameus. The music shifted effortlessly between moods—at times so intimate and inward-looking that the vast TivoliVredenburg hall felt like a living room concert, then expanding into sweeping, cinematic passages that could fill an even larger venue. “Stretch Your Eyes” was, for me, one of the true highlights of the evening—haunting, expansive, and deeply moving.
For the encore, Obel returned with “Words Are Dead”, “Riverside” (which of course couldn’t be left out), and “The Curse”. The night closed with a long, heartfelt standing ovation that lingered in the air long after the final notes had faded.
Agnes Obel
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Setlist
Red Virgin Soil
Dorian
Fuel To Fire
Camera’s Rolling
Laymelli
Familiar
Run Cried The Crawling
It’s Happening Again
Faustian Deal
Gemini
Philharmonics
Stretch Your Eyes
Words Are Dead
Riverside
The Curse
Show date 24/09/2025
