Barokksolistene

We are Barokksolistene, a Norway-based collective of performers working at the crossroads of early music, theatre, and live performance. Led by violinist and artistic director Bjarte Eike, our musicians, singers, dancers and actors share both a deep knowledge of historical performance practice and a strong desire to explore how this music can speak to audiences today.

For us, early music is a living art form. Each project begins as an act of rediscovery, shaped by improvisation, physical presence, storytelling, and close interaction with the audience. Whether we perform baroque chamber music, opera, Nordic folk traditions or interdisciplinary stage productions, our aim is always to create performances that feel immediate, shared and vibrant.

Our internationally recognised signature project, The Alehouse Sessions, captures the core of our artistic approach. Inspired by the lively musical culture of 17th-century London taverns, Alehouse breaks down traditional concert conventions and invites the audience into a vibrant, playful musical space. From this concept, several related productions have grown, including more theatrical formats and projects rooted in Nordic repertoire and traditions.

Alongside concert work, we are deeply engaged in theatre, opera and dance. We collaborate regularly with professional opera houses, theatres and choreographers, developing productions where music, drama, and movement are closely intertwined. Early opera plays a central role in our work, approached as a fully embodied stage art rather than a purely musical genre.

Working with children, young audiences and emerging artists is an essential part of our mission. Through dedicated productions, workshops, and collaborations with music education institutions across Europe, we share our approach to historical performance as a creative, flexible practice—rooted in rhetoric, ornamentation, improvisation and ensemble listening.

Barokksolistene is a flexible artistic platform rather than a fixed line-up. Our projects are developed through workshop periods that allow the music to be learned by heart, explored in depth, and shaped collectively. Across concerts, stage productions, educational work, and international touring, we continue to explore what early music can be today: playful, profound, and alive.