MariSamuelsen

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  • Violin

About Mari

In Mari Samuelsen’s musical universe, there are no barriers between the music of contemporary composers like Max Richter, Caroline Shaw, and Philip Glass, and that of Bach and Beethoven. With her breathtaking artistry, adventurous approach to programming, and emotionally charged style of playing, backed by immaculate technique and a drive to defy traditional expectations, she inspires a global audience.

Mari’s passion for genre blurring has seen her collaborate with a range of musicians including electronic music artists Jeff Mills, Dubfire, multimedia artist Philipp Geist and perform with Max Richter and Hollywood actress Tilda Swinton at the Bluedot Festival.

Mari's third studio album on Deutsche Grammophon LIFE, inspired by her experience of becoming a mother, includes music by Max Richter as well as Olivia Belli, Jóhann Jóhansson, and Nils Frahm, with a track by Hania Rani being selected by Louis Vuitton for their Olympic campaign. This follows her two previous albums LYS and MARI, both of which reached top 10 in the Classical Album Charts.

"When making music and putting together programs, I don't think about what's traditionally perceived to be "correct" or "expected", rather the opposite. My aim is to create innovative programmes for music lovers - regardless of genre."

Mari is based in Oslo

Contact

For Sales & Enquiries:

Rachel Bertaut

Rachel Bertaut

Senior Artist Manager

For contracts, logistics and press:

Tia Ling

Tia Ling

Assistant Artist Manager

Representation

General Management with Askonas Holt

Season Highlights

Aug 2024
Release of third album, LIFE, on Deutsche Grammophon
Aug 2024
National Concert Hall, Dublin
Play directing with RTÉ Concert Orchestra at Kilkenny Arts Festival
Sep 2024
ONDIF, Château de Vigny / Arboretum des Bordins
Mari Samuelsen play- directs Orchestre national d'Île-de-France, in collaboration with violinist Soyoung Yoon.
Oct 2024
Centrum Kongresowe ICE Kraków
Sinfonietta Cracovia
Nov 2024
Sinfonia Lahti, Sibelius Hall
Philip Glass: Violin Concerto No.1 Conducted by Dalia Stasevska

News

Press

  • Play-direct Max Richter's Recomposed: Vivaldi- The Four Seasons

    RTÉ Concert Orchestra, National Concert Hall (Dublin)
    Aug 2024
    • To say that this was a filmic evening is to state the blindingly obvious… The rapport between Samuelsen and the orchestra was superb… Samuelsen was stunning in the famous virtuoso cadenzas and the RTÉ Concert Orchestra played to match.

  • BBC Symphony Concert

    Queen Elizabeth Hall, London
    Feb 2023
    • Samuelsen made her entrance with an ethereal performance of Lonely Angel by Pēteris Vasks… Like The Lark Ascending meets Shostakovich, it nevertheless speaks with its own ecstatic voice, which Samuelsen fully embraced and projected through a seamless melodic line...In Samuelsen’s hands the solo part was in turns radiant and quixotic and moving experience.

  • Philip Glass Violin Concerto no. 1

    BBC Symphony Orchestra, Queen Elizabeth Hall
    May 2022
    • Pumping iron must be a piece of cake compared to playing Glass arpeggios. Yet there are moments for the violinist to soar, and Samuelsen’s sweet tone allowed the music to float in the sighing central movement

  • LYS album

    May 2022
    • The resultant soundscapes- for that is what many of them are- are breathtaking.

  • MARI album

    Jun 2019
    • Coruscating repeating patterns leaping off the soundboard as if fingers were treading on hot coals.

  • James Horner 'Pas de Deux'

    LA Philharmonic, Hollywood Bowl
    Aug 2016
    • Pas de Deux… was given a spell binding rendition by the Samuelsens and the LA Phil.