23 Facts About Ole Bull

Ole Bull was the eldest of ten children of Johan Storm Bull and Anna Dorothea Borse Geelmuyden.

Ole Bull was the uncle of Edvard Hagerup Bull, Norwegian judge and politician.

Ole Bull's father wished for him to become a minister, but he desired a musical career.

Ole Bull joined the Musical Lyceum, a musical society, and after its director Waldemar Thrane was taken ill, Bull became the director of Musical Lyceum and the Theater Orchestra in 1828.

Ole Bull became friends with Henrik Wergeland, who later wrote a biography of Bull.

Ole Bull was eventually successful in becoming a high-level virtuoso, giving thousands of concerts.

Ole Bull is believed to have composed more than 70 works, but only about 10 are known today.

Bull was a friend of the Grieg family, since Ole Bull's brother was married to the sister of Grieg's mother.

Ole Bull noticed Edvard's talent and persuaded his parents to send him to further develop his talents at the Leipzig Conservatory.

Ole Bull was concertmaster at the National Peace Jubilee which featured an orchestra of 525 players.

Robert Schumann once wrote that Ole Bull was among "the greatest of all," and that he was on a level with Niccolo Paganini for the speed and clarity of his playing.

Ole Bull was a friend of Franz Liszt and played with him on several occasions.

Ole Bull was a clever luthier, after studies in Paris with Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume.

Ole Bull collected many beautiful violins and violas of Amati, Gasparo da Salo, Guarneri, Stradivari and others.

Ole Bull was the owner of one of the finest violins of the world, made by Gasparo da Salo around 1574 for Ferdinand II, Archduke of Austria.

The violin, a gift of his widow to Ole Bull's birthplace, is in the Bergen Vestlandske Kustindustrimuseum.

Ole Bull often performed with Guarneri del Gesu violins during his career.

Ole Bull visited the United States several times and was met with great success.

Ole Bull called the highest point in Valhalla, Nordjenskald, which became the location of his unfinished castle.

Ole Bull soon gave up on this venture, as there was scarcely any land to till, and went back to giving concerts.

In 1868 Ole Bull met Sara Chapman Thorp, the daughter of a prosperous lumber merchant from Eau Claire, Wisconsin.

Ole Bull hired architect Conrad Fredrik von der Lippe to design a residence on the island.

Ole Bull had held his last concert in Chicago the same year, despite his illness.