‘Vivaldi Recomposed’: Knock Basilica, Saturday, November 7th 2026

Renowned Norwegian superstar violinist Mari Samuelsen joins the RTÉ Concert Orchestra at Knock Basilica for one unforgettable evening.

In Mari Samuelsen’s musical universe, there are no barriers between the music of contemporary composers like Max Richter, Caroline Shaw, and Philip Glass, and that of Bach and Beethoven. With her breathtaking artistry, adventurous approach to programming, and emotionally charged style of playing, backed by immaculate technique and a drive to defy traditional expectations, she inspires a global audience.

Mari’s passion for genre blurring has seen her collaborate with a range of musicians including electronic music artists Jeff Mills, Dubfire, multimedia artist Philipp Geist and perform with Max Richter and Hollywood actress Tilda Swinton at the Bluedot Festival.

Mari’s third studio album on Deutsche Grammophon, LIFE, inspired by her experience of becoming a mother, includes music by Max Richter as well as Olivia Belli, Jóhann Jóhansson, and Nils Frahm, with a track by Hania Rani being selected by Louis Vuitton for their Olympic campaign. This follows her two previous albums LYS and MARI, both of which reached top 10 in the Classical Album Charts.

“When making music and putting together programs, I don’t think about what’s traditionally perceived to be “correct” or “expected”, rather the opposite. My aim is to create innovative programmes for music lovers – regardless of genre.”

As part of this concert in Knock Basilica, Mari and the RTÉ Concert Orchestra will perform Max Richter’s Vivaldi Recomposed – The Four Seasons, a bold reimagining of Vivaldi’s classic that has captivated audiences worldwide. Richter’s work is both familiar and strikingly new – brought vividly to life through Samuelsen’s expressive interpretation and the powerful sound of the orchestra.

Presented by the RTÉ Concert Orchestra and Knock Basilica

Image of Mari Samuelsen: Andrea Gjestvang