The relative values of Philharmonic solo stars

Brother and sister Mari and Håkon Samuelsen visit Preston for the first time tomorrow to star with the Liverpool Philharmonic.
Mari and Håkon SamuelsenMari and Håkon Samuelsen
Mari and Håkon Samuelsen

The pair, who are tipped for international stardom, will give a rendition of their widely acclaimed rendition of Brahms Double Concerto, which so impressed the crowds at Milan’s I Pomeriggi Musicali in 2011 that the pair were invited back for the next two seasons on the spot.

Violinist Mari and cellist Håkon are just 29 and 31 respectively but have performed as soloists in many of the world’s greatest concert halls, including Carnegie Hall, Théatre des Champs-Elysées, Konzerthaus Berlin, Smetana Hall, Victoria Hall, Kremlin Hall, the Oslo Opera and Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw.

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Now on tour for the first time with the Liverpool Philharmonic, tomorrow they join them as soloists at their second home of Preston Guild Hall.

Scouts from the Philharmonic spotted the rising pair’s talents as long as two years ago but the classical world has been taking note for much longer.

Both studied at the Barratt Due Institute of Music and together they were awarded the Hedmark county Culture prize in 2006 – a highly unusual achievement for two siblings.

Mari had studied under Arve Tellefsen since the age of just four and both she and her brother won several scholarships as youngsters.

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Next year, they reach what may be the highlight of their career so far. The Oscar-winning composer James Horner, who created the music for movie smashes Titanic and Avatar , has composed a double concerto for violin and cello specially for the pair who will play it at its world premiere in 2014

The highlight of the Liverpool Phil’s concert will be the orchestra’s performance of the full suite of Edward Elgar’s famous Enigma Variations – including the famous Nimrod.

Inspired by a single phrase which the composer’s wife admired, each of the resulting 14 pieces in the great suite was dedicated by the composer to one of his closest friends.

Led by Alexander Shelley, son of famous conductor Howard Shelley, the programme will also feature Richard Strauss’s Don Juan.

Tickets are still available from the box office on 0844 844 7714 or online at www.prestonguildhall.com.

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