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.

In demand worldwide as a concert soloist and known for her imaginative artistry in curating her own concert programs, Mari has performed at leading venues such as New York’s Carnegie Hall, Paris’s Philharmonie and Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, Berlin’s Konzerthaus, London’s Barbican Centre, and the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles. Past engagements include double-sold out concerts with RTÉ Concert Orchestra at Galway International Arts Festival and National Concert Hall, Sinfonia Lahti in Finland with Dalia Stasevska, Sinfonietta Cracovia in Poland, and amongst others.

Mari regularly collaborates with British composer Max Richter, performing as a soloist in concert renditions of his works such as Vivaldi Recomposed, Memoryhouse, and Voices. Recent highlights include performances with Richter and Hollywood star actress Tilda Swinton at the Bluedot Festival and the All Together Now Festival in Ireland. Over the course of her career, Mari has worked with a wide range of artists, including electronic music artists Jeff Mills and Dubfire, and multimedia artist Philipp Geist.

Her discography includes the world premiere recording of James Horner’s Double Concerto for Violin, Cello, and Orchestra (2015), and her first solo album, Nordic Noir (2017), which topped Norwegian pop charts. An exclusive Deutsche Grammophon artist since 2019, Mari’s debut album, MARI, was lauded by Gramophone magazine for her ‘seriously impressive playing… hand-crafted precision.’ Her second album, LYS (2022), features music by thirteen female composers; and the upcoming third studio album, LIFE, inspired by her experience of becoming a mother, will be released on August 30, 2024, featuring music by Olivia Belli, Jóhann Jóhansson, Max Richter, Hania Rani, Nils Frahm, Ludovico Einaudi, Steve Reich, and Bryce Dessner.

Photo credit: Andrea Gjestvang