Hakon & Mari Samuelsen

Biography

This Norwegian brother and sister duo, made up of violinist Mari and cellist Hakon Samuelsen, have forged an impressive international performing career.

After growing up together in Hamar in Norway, the duo began performing together professionally in the 1990s.

Christmas is very important to the duo, and they founded their very own annual festive show, A Christmas Concert from Norway in 2004 (the Klassisk Julekonsert).

The duo's performing career has taken them to New York's Carnegie Hall, Berlin's Konzerthaus and the Concergebouw in Amsterdam.

Mari currently plays on a G.B. Gudagnini violin made in 1777, while Hakon uses a Francesco Ruggiero cello made in 1687.

They're also sponsored by Raymond Weil watches.

Hakon & Mari are artistic directors of Yellow Lounge Norway, a classical club night based in Oslo.

In 2014, they gave the world premiere of Oscar-winning composer James Horner's double concerto for violin and cello (entitled Pas de deux), with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and Vasily Petrenko.