Ernst-Simon is a British/Norwegian cellist: he was born in Norway, but was educated in the UK. He is now principal cello in the world famous Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra. 

In addition to his orchestral work, Glaser regularly performs in chamber music concerts and as a soloist, appearing with most of the Norwegian Orchestras and further afield in Scandinavia, Europe, Canada, Israel and China.

Glaser has worked with many other outstanding musicians and conductors and he is also an established recording artist. He has had a number of works written specially for him by Norwegian composers and is in the process of completing a project ‘Bach Inspiration’, exploring the potential to connect classic repertoire with present-day approaches, for which he has commissioned new companion pieces to be played alongside each of the Bach cello suites, which are fundamental to the cello canon.

Glaser has won several awards including ‘Young Soloist of the Year’ from The Norwegian Concert Society in 2002, and the ‘Friends of Music’ Debut Prize in 2004. He is also a well-established recording artist. Following his success in the Young Soloist of the Year competition, he made his debut CD with works by Schubert and Schumann for the SIMAX label. His latest recording (Zvezdochka in Orbit) with Bergen’s Royal Navy Band features four highly diverse cello concertos by Ibert, Gulda, Jon Øivind Ness and Olav Anton Thommessen – receiving excellent reviews in Norway and abroad, praising how Glaser “with groove and elegance explores new avenues within contemporary music”.

Ernst Simon Glaser plays a cello by Francesco Ruggeri (Cremona, c. 1680), generously on loan from Dextra Musica AS.

Photograph (c) Ola Kjelbye

This project will be heard for the first time at the 2019 Rye Arts Festival, when Glaser will perform three of the Bach unaccompanied cello suites side by side with three pieces written by Norwegian composers.

PROGRAMME

Magnar Åm - Echo of what will come (inspired by Bach Suite No.1 in G major)

J.S.Bach - Suite for solo cello No.1 in G major

J.S.Bach - Suite for solo cello No.2 in D minor

Bjørn Kruse - Ripensamento (inspired by Bach Suite No.2 in D minor)

INTERVAL

Lene Grenager - Der Bach an der Quelle (inspired by Bach Suite No.4 in E flat major)

J.S. Bach - Suite for solo cello No.4 in E flat major