MARIANNE THORSEN Violine

Marianne Thorsen performs 
at the opening concert of the 
Ski World Championships 2025

Klassische Symphonie


26 feb. 2025 Kl 22:00

27. Februar 2025, 21:00 Uhr


Klassisk symfoni at Nidarosdomen, Trondheim's Nidaros Cathedral.


Marianne Thorsen, Violin

Antonio Vivaldi

The Four Seasons: Winter


Trondheim Symphony Orchestra

Dirigent, Anna Maria Helsing


           Full concert details           

Photo: Ole Wuttudal

New Marianne Thorsen Recording 

with Trondheim Symphony Orchestra / Nick Davies

2L-173-SABD

Marianne Thorsen spiller herlig, med god og feit tone, og overlegent overskudd der hun virkelig lener seg inn i musikken. 

Marianne Thorsen plays beautifully, with a good and bold tone, and superior energy where she really leans into the music.

Ballade.no

Neue CD / Digitalveröffentlichung:

Mariannes Aufnahme von

Ståle Kleiberg’s Violin Concerto Nr. 2 with Trondheim Symphony Orchestra / Peter Szilvay on 2L.

Aufnahme von Kleiberg in der Olavshallen, Norwegen, auf einer Giovanni Battista Guadagnini von 1745, freundlicherweise zur Verfügung gestellt von der Dextra Musica Foundation.

There are magic moments galore along the way, but to hear Marianne Thorsen (ravishing portamentos) soar aloft with the pulsating phrases is an unforgettable experience.
INTERNATIONAL RECORD REVIEW

 
Dazzlingly violinistic and brilliantly played.          
THE SUNDAY TIMES, LONDON                   
Engagingly fleet-fingered, sweet-toned, mellifluous performances, topped off with perfect cadenzas.
CLASSIC FM MAGAZINE

Searing tone and rhythmic dash - it would be hard to imagine more compelling performances.
THE SUNDAY TIMES, LONDON

Beautifully sculpted phrasing, but she soon lets rip with broad G-string melodies dripping in luscious vibrato.
THE STRAD

Marianne Thorsen has a varied musical life as a performer and is one of Norway's leading violinists. A keen chamber musician, Marianne has performed with such eminent artists as Håvard Gimse, Lawrence Power, Marc-André Hamelin, Truls Mørk, Paul Lewis, Pascal Rogé, Paul Watkins, Lars Anders Tomter and Leif Ove Andsnes at the Norwegian festivals in Oslo, Bergen, Trondheim and Stavanger; and with the Nash Ensemble and Leopold String Trio at the BBC Proms in London and the Edinburgh, Bath and Cheltenham Festivals in the UK (live broadcasts for BBC Radio 3). 

As a soloist, Marianne has performed with the Philharmonia Orchestra, BBC Symphony Orchestra, City of Birmingham Symphony, Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, all the Norwegian orchestras and many of the major orchestras in Scandinavia.

Marianne enjoys a regular collaboration with the Trondheim Soloists with whom she recorded Mozart's Violin Concertos 3, 4 and 5 for 2L to great critical acclaim, winning the Norwegian Spellemann prize in 2006. Her recording with the Trondheim Symphony Orchestra of Ståle Kleiberg's Violin Concerto no. 1, dedicated to her, received an American Grammy nomination in 2010; and Marianne gave the world premiere of Ketil Hvoslef's Violin Concerto, also dedicated to her, broadcast live on Norwegian national television (NRK) with the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra / Vassily Sinaisky. 2011-2014 saw the release of five CDs of music by Halvorsen and Svendsen on the Chandos label, with Thorsen as soloist alongside the Bergen Philharmonic / Neeme Järvi, including Svendsen's Violin Concerto.

Marianne Thorsen was leader of the internationally renowned Nash Ensemble of London from 2000-2015 and a founder member of the Leopold String Trio from 1991-2006 with extensive tours throughout Europe, Australia and the USA and numerous recordings for Hyperion Records in London.

Recent highlights include Alban Berg’s Violin Concerto with the Norwegian Broadcasting Orchestra (KORK); recitals with the Norwegian pianist Håvard Gimse at the Bergen International Festival; the Oslo International Chamber Music Festival (with Radovan Vlatkovic, Liv Glaser and Håvard Gimse) and at the Edinburgh International Festival with the Nash Ensemble for BBC Radio 3 in August 2019. Marianne has just recorded Violin Concerto no. 2 by Ståle Kleiberg with the Trondheim Symphony Orchestra and Peter Szilvay – to be released on 2L in April 2021.

Marianne was Artistic Director of the Vinterfestspill festival in Røros, Norway from 2009-2013. Since 2006 she has been professor of violin at the Department of Music at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim. 

Marianne plays on a Giovanni Battista Guadagnini from 1745, kindly on loan from the Dextra Musica Foundation. 

Norwegian Biography

Kammermusikken er en sentral del av Marianne Thorsens utøvende virke. Hun har samarbeidet med blant andre Håvard Gimse, Lawrence Power, Marc-André Hamelin, Truls Mørk, Paul Lewis, Pascal Rogé, Paul Watkins, Lars Anders Tomter and Leif Ove Andsnes ved kammermusikkfestivalene i Oslo, Bergen, Trondheim og Stavanger; og med Nash Ensemble og Leopold String Trio ved BBC Proms i London og på Edinburgh, Bath og Cheltenham festivalene (for BBC Radio 3) i Storbritannia. 

Marianne har opptrådt som solist med BBC Symphony, Philharmonia (London), City of Birmingham Symphony, Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, og flere orkestre i Norge og Skandinavia.

Marianne vant Spellemannsprisen i 2006 for innspillinger av Mozart fiolinkonserter med Trondheimsolistene for 2L. En annen 2L-innspilling med Ståle Kleiberg fiolinkonsert nr. 1 med Trondheim Symfoniorkester, ble nominert til Grammy i 2010. Hun har urfremført Ketil Hvoslef fiolinkonsert med Vassily Sinaisky og Oslo-filharmonien, sendt direkte på NRK-TV. Marianne er solist på fem innspillinger med musikk av Halvorsen og Svendsen på Chandos, med Bergen Filharmoniske Orkester og Neeme Järvi (Svendsen fiolinkonsert m.m).

Marianne var spillende leder av Nash Ensemble of London fra 2000-2015 og Leopold String Trio fra 1991-2006, med en omfattende turnevirksomhet i Europa, Australia og USA og flertallige CD utgivelser på Hyperion Records, London. 

Nylig var hun solist i Alban Berg fiolinkonsert med KORK, konserter med Håvard Gimse på Festspillene i Bergen; opptredener ved Oslo kammermusikkfestival (med Radovan Vlatkovic, Liv Glaser og Håvard Gimse) og på Edinburgh International Festival med Nash-ensemblet for BBC Radio 3 i august 2019. Marianne har nettopp spilt inn fiolinkonsert nr. 2 av Ståle Kleiberg med Trondheim Symfoniorkester og Peter Szilvay – innspillingen kommer ut på 2L i April 2021.

Marianne var kunstnerisk leder av Vinterfestspill på Røros fra 2009-2013. Siden 2006 har hun vært ansatt som professor i fiolin og kammermusikk ved NTNU Institutt for musikk. 

Marianne spiller på en Giovanni Battista Guadagnini fra 1745, generøst stilt til disposisjon av Dextra Musica.

News 2023

Marianne was Guest Concertmaster of the Oslo Philharmonic / Andrew Manze (October '23) in performances of Mozart’s symphonies 39, 40 and 41.

Marianne Thorsen and Håvard Gimse in recital at the home of the celebrated Norwegian composer, Fartein Valen, in Haugesund, August 2023.

Marianne performed at Horten kammermusikkfest, Norway in June including Mendelssohn: String Octet and Mozart’s Clarinet Quintet.

New release - HENNING SOMMERRO: BORDERS VIOLIN CONCERTO with Trondheim Symphony Orchestra / Nick Davies (2L)

Marianne performed String Quintets by Mendelssohn (nr. 2) and Dvorak (nr. 3) on May 9th at Sentralen, Oslo for Dextra Musica. Alongside Atle Sponberg, violin, Catherine Bullock, viola, Julia Neher, viola and Øyvind Gimse, cello.

Marianne also led a performance of Tchaikovsky’s Souvenir de Florence, op 70 at Dextra’s Ode to Guadagnini concert at the National Museum, Oslo on 10th February 2023. With Atle Sponberg, Catherine Bullock-Bukkøy, Michael Grolid, Torleif Thedéen and Marcus Michelin.

The musicians performing on fine Giovanni Battista Guadagnini instruments kindly on loan from the Dextra Musica Foundation.

News 2022

Marianne performed Kleiberg: Violin Concerto No 2 with TrondheimSolistene at the Freemason’s Hall, Trondheim in September at the TRONDHEIM CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL, Norway (also the opening concert of HYFER, NTNU’S KNOWLEDGE FESTIVAL). 

Her recording of Ståle Kleiberg’s Concerto Nr. 2 with Trondheim Symphony Orchestra / Peter Szilvay on 2L was released in August last year.

Marianne performed on June 13th at the festival program presentation concert of the Trondheim kammermusikkfestival (www.kamfest.no), taking place between 18th – 25th September this year.

News 2021

Marianne performed at the Gudbrandsdal Musikkfest, Norway from 7th - 9th October, including Schubert’s Rondo Brillant in B minor Op. 70 with Norwegian pianist, Sveinung Bjelland.

Marianne performed at the TRONDHEIM KAMMERMUSIKKFESTIVAL on Sept 19th – Nordheim: Partita für Paul (solo violin and electronics) and Bartok’s Romanian Folk Dances with pianist, Mona Spigseth.

New CD Release in August 2021: Marianne’s recording of Ståle Kleiberg’s Violin Concerto Nr. 2 with Trondheim Symphony Orchestra / Peter Szilvay on 2L.

On September 5th, Marianne performed at the Bergen Chamber Music Society – a recital with the acclaimed Norwegian musicians, pianist, Håvard Gimse and cellist, Øyvind Gimse including Dvořák’s Piano Trio No. 4 in E minor, Op. 90 (Dumky Trio).

In June, Marianne recorded a new concerto for violin and orchestra ‘Borders’ by Henning Sommero with the Trondheim Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Nick Davies. To be released on 2L in 2022. 

Marianne performed at the Stavanger Chamber Music Festival from the 10th – 15th August including Brahms: Violin Sonata nr. 1 in G-dur op. 78 with pianist, Joachim Carr. 

Marianne performed at the Oslo Chamber Music Festival on August 16th (recital with Øyvind Gimse, cello) and August 21st (recital with Håvard Gimse, piano).

Marianne performed at the Horten Chamber Music Festival near Oslo: 23rd to 27th June 2021 and chamber music on June 11th and 12th at Palko & Co on the island of Bru, Stavanger. 


News 2020

Marianne Thorsen führt am 22. September mit dem Pianisten Jørgen Larsen in der Freemason Hall in Trondheim (Trondheim Chamber Music Festival) Beethovens Frühlingssonante (1. Satz) auf, um den neuen Steinway-Flügel der Halle zu feiern. www.kamfest.no Marianne führt am 14. Oktober mit Christian Ihle Hadland (Klavier) und Frida Fredrikke Waaler Wærvågen in der Holy Cross Church in Bergen (Korskirken) für die Bergen Chamber Music Society Werke von Beethoven, Hurum und Schostakowitsch auf. Im Februar leitete Marianne Thorsen als Gast das Scottish Ensemble bei Aufführungen der Streichoktette von Mendelssohn und Enescu in der Perth Concert Hall am Montag, dem 3., der Aberdeen Music Hall am Dienstag, dem 4., der Queen's Hall in Edinburgh am Mittwoch, dem 5., der Crichton Church in Dumfries am Donnerstag, dem 6. und der Glasgow Royal Concert Hall am Freitag, dem 7. Marianne trat mit Lawrence Power, Paul Watkins und Simon Crawford-Phillips in der Schweiz auf: Nyon (Grande Salle de la Colombière, 6. Oktober), Genf (Salle Centrale Madeleine, 7. Oktober) und Vevey (Salle del Castillo, 8. Oktober) und spielte unter anderem Beethoven: Streichtrio Nr. 1, op. 3 und Brahms: Klavierquartett Nr. 2, op. 26. Marianne trat am Samstag, den 16. November um 19:30 Uhr in der Wigmore Hall in London als erste Geige des Nash Ensemble of London auf. Haydn: „Der Kaiser“ Streichquartett in C Op. 76 Nr. 3, Carl Maria von Weber: Klarinettenquintett in B-Dur Op. 34 (mit Richard Hosford) und Schubert: Streichquintett in C D956. Marianne leitete das Scottish Ensemble auf seiner Tournee vom 29. August bis 3. September, bei der sie die Oktette von Mendelssohn und Enescu in Crear, Argyl, Mull, Inverness und Dundee aufführte. „Kammermusik auf höchstem Niveau: intim, überlegt, herrlich anregend. Gastleiterin Marianne Thorsen gab mit ihrem geschmeidigen, stark definierten Spiel den Ton an, das ermutigte, aber nie diktierte.“ THE SCOTSMAN David Kettle, Marryat Hall, Dundee ***** (5 Sterne) Marianne trat im August beim Oslo Kammermusikkfestival auf, unter anderem mit Beethoven: Erste Sonate für Violine und Klavier mit Liv Glaser (Hammerklavier); und Brahms: Trio für Violine, Horn und Klavier mit Radovan Vlatkovic, Horn, und Håvard Gimse, Klavier. Marianne tritt am 27. September beim Trondheim Chamber Music Festival auf: Vivaldis Winterkonzert aus Die Vier Jahreszeiten beim Mitternachtskonzert in der Kathedrale von Trondheim (mit den TrondheimSoloists). Marianne führt außerdem Ravel auf: Sonate für Violine und Cello mit Tanja Tetzlaff, Cello, am 28. September um 18.00 Uhr im Sverresborg Trøndelag Folk Museum in Trondheim. Marianne tritt am 12. Oktober mit dem Nash Ensemble of London in der Wigmore Hall auf (mit Stéphanie d'Oustrac, Mezzosopran). Auf dem Programm stehen Werke von Weber, Schuberts Forellenquintett und Spohr. Marianne Thorsen kehrte am 17. August mit dem Nash Ensemble zum Edinburgh International Festival zurück. Auf dem Programm standen Sir James MacMillans Fourteen Little Pictures für Klaviertrio und Dvořak: Klaviertrio in e-Moll Dumky mit Adrian Brendel, Cello, und Alasdair Beatson, Klavier.