Ensemble Allegria
Biography Ensemble Allegria
Allegria
(ital.) means a merriment and enjoyment, and indeed it was the pleasure of playing together that led a group of music students to launch the orchestra in 2007. Ensemble Allegria is considered among Norway´s leading music ensembles and are known for combining high artistic quality with spontaneity and flexibility. Ensemble Allegria is comprised of 23 musicians and since its beginning, the orchestra has been managed independently by its own members. Its permanent concertmaster and artistic director is Maria Angelika Carlsen.
In addition to its own concert series “NÅ” in Oslo, Ensemble Allegria has performed at a number of the leading music festivals in Norway and has collaborated with internationally known soloists, such as Tine Thing Helseth, Martin Fröst, Truls Mørk, Lawrence Power, Kathryn Stott and Benjamin Schmid. The orchestra has released 3 recordings, whereas two have been nominated for the Norwegian Grammy, and has for several years been engaged in projects in collaboration with the Norwegian Soloists’ Choir. In 2018 they received, together with The Norwegian Soloist Choir, Diapason d'or de l'année for Choir Record of the Year.
Maria Angelika Carlsen
comes from Nesodden, lives in Oslo and is principal 2. violin in the Oslo Philharmonic orchestra. Maria is very comfortable in the middle of the big symphony orchestra sound, and simply loves being able to accompany a good soloist and help shape the music together with the orchestra, to evoke moments and to be completely present in the present.
Maria graduated from Norway's Academy of Music, where she had Detlef Hahn and Peter Herresthal as teachers, and in these years found Ensemble Allegria together. This chamber orchestra has taught her to think for herself, and challenges her time and time again to become a better, more listening, flexible and patient musician.
Moments she will never forget are being a soloist with the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra, winning the audition for her first job in the SSO, the first time she played in Barratt Due's Junior Orchestra as a 10-year-old (it was so INCREDIBLE fun!), playing Schubert's Ninth Symphony without a conductor with KORK, Bach's fugues that were played in the family home in the old days, and when Allegria opened the Oslo Chamber Music Festival with a string symphony by Mendelssohn, with eyes closed.
