Ole Bull

Ole Bull (1810–1880) – Norwegian violinist and composer. As a virtuoso, he made an international career, performing with such great musicians as Ferenc Liszt and Felix Mendelssohn. He founded the Norwegian Theatre, to which he invited the young Henrik Ibsen to be playwright in residence. He was compared to Niccolò Paganini – the great charm of his interpretations was appreciated by Robert Schumann, among others. Bull’s compositions (e.g. the song Saeterjentens Søndag) are distinguished by their melodiousness rich harmonies. Ole Bull belonged to the group of alternative and radical elite of Norwegian artists and was a close friend of Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson. Bull worked consciously to spread knowledge about folk culture and folk music in order to create a Norwegian national identity. Bull learned to play the Hardanger violin and was one of the very first to arrange public concerts with folk musicians plying this instrument. Bull meant that the Norwegian folk music was to form the base of a Norwegian art music.