Mari Samuelsen: Philip Glass & John Williams: Dates, Cities & Tickets

Mari Samuelsen: Philip Glass & John Williams

A cinematic orchestral sensation unfolds as the virtuoso Norwegian violinist Mari Samuelsen leads the RTÉ Concert Orchestra in a blockbuster programme conducted by the celebrated Swedish conductor Patrik Ringborg. The dynamic soloist, an exclusive Deutsche Grammophon artist, returns after a series of sold‑out shows of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons Reimagined at NCH, All Together Now, Galway International Arts, and Kilkenny Arts Festival, to present a spectacular blend of contemporary and classic film music.

At the heart of the evening is Philip Glass’s hypnotic Violin Concerto No. 1, first heard in Emmanuel Carrère’s “La Moustache” (2005). Built on looping, ascending arpeggios, this 1987 masterpiece was written as a heartfelt tribute to Glass’s father, “let me write a piece that my father would have liked.” Samuelsen’s soaring tone brings the concerto’s pulse to vivid life.

The program then turns to the iconic soundtracks of John Williams, taking audiences on a journey through the magic of “E.T.,” “Star Wars,” and “Harry Potter.” Samuelsen shines as the soloist in the haunting theme from “Schindler’s List,” the playful “Chairman’s Waltz” from “Memoirs of a Geisha,” the dramatic “Theme from Jurassic Park,” and the rousing “Raiders’ March” from “Raiders of the Lost Ark.”

Bachtrack praised the collaboration, noting that “the rapport between Samuelsen and the orchestra was superb,” underscoring the seamless synergy across the sweeping, nostalgic repertoire.

Witness this extraordinary partnership in a concert film that blends music, memory, and adventure, a must‑see for fans of soaring violin and unforgettable cinematic scores.

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