Stein-Erik Olsen (born 8 September 1953) is a Norwegian

classical guitar The classical guitar, also known as Spanish guitar, is a member of the guitar family used in classical music and other styles. An acoustic wooden string (music), string instrument with strings made of catgut, gut or nylon, it is a precursor of the ...

ist and professor of guitar at the

University of Bergen The University of Bergen () is a public university, public research university in Bergen, Norway. As of 2021, the university had over 4,000 employees and 19,000 students. It was established by an act of parliament in 1946 consolidating several sci ...

, known from collaborations with such as

Gro Sandvik Gro Schibsted Sandvik prof.em (born 2 October 1942 in Sarpsborg, Norway) has served as principal flute of the Bergen Philharmonic 1967-2004. She held the position from 1964 with Stavanger Symphony orchestra. Since 1967 she is a member of Berge ...

, Roar Engelberg and St Martin in the Fields and a series of recordings.

Career

Olsen is a graduate of the

Bergen Musikkonservatorium The Grieg Academy () is a disputed historical term used to refer to the higher education music programs in Bergen, Norway (birthplace of composer Edvard Grieg), as well as various collaborations across music institutions in Bergen. However, since 2 ...

, the

Norwegian Academy of Music The Norwegian Academy of Music (Norwegian: ''Norges musikkhøgskole'', NMH) is a university-level music conservatory located in Oslo, Norway, in the neighbourhood of Majorstuen, Frogner. It is the largest music academy in Norway and offers the ...

and Paris Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique. He has also studied under Per-Olof Johnson and Manuel Barrucco. Since 1992 Olsen has been Professor at the Bergen Musikkonservatorium, from 1995 the

Grieg Academy The Grieg Academy () is a disputed historical term used to refer to the higher education music programs in Bergen, Norway (birthplace of composer Edvard Grieg), as well as various collaborations across music institutions in Bergen. However, since 2 ...

. He has given concerts all over Europe, with an international debut in

Wigmore Hall The Wigmore Hall is a concert hall at 36 Wigmore Street, in west London. It was designed by Thomas Edward Collcutt and opened in 1901 as the Bechstein Hall; it is considered to have particularly good building acoustics, acoustics. It specialis ...

, London in 1986. The main focus of his work has always been to explore and record non-traditional music, often composed music developed in collaboration with various composers. In one of his latest releases Olsen reconstructed compositions for two guitars by guitar icon Ida Presti. This recording has received international attention and generated rave reviews, with interviews and stories in such Classical Guitar Magazine. In 2011, Olsen prepares recordings of guitar concerts with the chamber orchestra St Martin in the Fields.

Discography (in selection)

Solo albums

*1984: ''Homage'' ( Simax Classics) *1985: ''Alveland'' (

Kirkelig Kulturverksted Kirkelig Kulturverksted (KKV) is a Norwegian company and record label, founded in 1974 by Erik Hillestad. Among the musicians who have issued records on the label are Ketil Bjørnstad, Kari Bremnes, Erik Bye, Ole Paus, Sigvart Dagsland, Bjørn ...

) *1986: ''Panorama'' (Kirkelig Kulturverksted) *1986: ''Blue Sonata'' (Simax Classics) *1991: ''Songs & Dances'' (Simax Classics) *2005: ''3-Way Project'' (Simax Classics)

Collaborative works

;With

*1986: ''Double Delight'' (Bergen Digital Studio) *1994: ''Diptych'' (Simax Classics) *2010: ''L'Espace Entre Nous'', composed by Noel Zahler ;With Roar Engelberg *1989: ''Mosaic'' (Kirkelig Kulturverksted) *1990: ''Doina'' (Kirkelig Kulturverksted) *1990: ''Caffè Europa'' (Kirkelig Kulturverksted) *2000: ''Sonata Mongoliana'' (Simax Classics) ;With Olivier Chassain *2009: ''Les compositions de Ida Presti pour deux guitares'' (Simax Classics)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Olsen, Stein-Erik 20th-century Norwegian guitarists 21st-century Norwegian guitarists Norwegian classical guitarists Norwegian male guitarists Musicians from Bergen Academic staff of the University of Bergen Simax Classics artists 1953 births Living people 20th-century Norwegian male musicians 21st-century Norwegian male musicians Norwegian male jazz musicians