Baroque violinist Bjarte Eike pushes boundaries in classical music, constantly looking for new projects in the borderland of genres and is reaching out to new audiences with his infectious playing and style.
As the artistic director of Barokksolistene, he has created new and innovative concepts such as "The Alehouse Sessions"; exploring 17th century music from the pubs and alehouses in England, "The Early Joke"; a musical travel through music history, exploring different aspects on humour and music and "The Image of Melancholy"; dealing with the sad songs and emotions through renaissance, folk and experimental music.
As a freelance violinist he explores alternative ways of approaching classical music. Although rooted in Historically Informed Performance practice he strives to include other artistic aspects in his performances, using visual arts, dance, storytelling and improvisation. Major collaborations include Handel’s Alcina at the Norwegian National Opera, Vespertine with choreographer Liam Scarlett, a staged Messiah with Netia Jones for Bergen National Opera at the Bergen International Festival and recordings and concerts with jazz pianist Jon Balke, including as part of the Siwan project which explores the links between North African Arabic, Andalusian and baroque music.
This broad, unifying approach to music, as well as a desire to curate exhilarating new experiences for audiences has led to him being invited to be Artist-in-Residence at festivals for early music, classical music, folk music, experimental music and jazz and as a conductor he is increasingly in demand for play-direct engagements with major symphony orchestras.
Eike received his training from the Grieg Academy in Bergen, Norway and with Richard Gwilt in London, and has been Artist in residence at festivals for early music, classical music, folk music, experimental music and jazz. He has participated in a large number of recordings and is currently teaching baroque violin at the Norwegian Academy of Music in Oslo and as a guest-teacher at the Royal Danish Music Conservatory in Copenhagen.