July 1 Barokksolistene, or baroque soloists
Barokksolistene:
Bjarte Eike (NO) – violin, singing, artistic direction
Miloš Valent (SK) – violin, singing
Tom Guthrie (UK) – violin, singing
Per Buhre (SE) – viola, singing
Fredrik Bock (SE) – baroque guitar, charango, singing
Steven Player (UK) – baroque guitar, singing, dancing
Hans Knut Sveen (NO) – harmonium, singing
Johannes Lundberg (SE) – double bass, singing
Barokksolistene, or ‘baroque soloists’ in Norwegian, is a unique, international ensemble of outstanding instrumentalists of the historical movement, united by their love of… playing. Led by Norwegian violinist Bjarte Eike, the ensemble is known for its versatility, ability to improvise in a variety of styles and, above all, its spirit of uninhibited fun. The Alehouse Sessions programme, with which Barokksolistene have performed at Hamburg’s Elbphilharmonie, among others, and will soon make their debut at the prestigious Edinburgh Festival, is a unique combination of 17th century English music (Henry Purcell), English shanties and Scandinavian dances, played as if in the eponymous pub (alehouse). The programme simultaneously draws inspiration from Shakespearean theatre, where the relationship between performers and audience was direct, and from the atmosphere of nightclub jams. The band will perform in Poland for the first time.