Karl-Birger Blomdahl

Karl-Birger Blomdahl (born October 19, 1916 in Växjö , † June 14, 1968 in Kungsängen near Stockholm ) was a Swedish composer and conductor .

Blomdahl first studied biochemistry , later he was a student of Hilding Rosenberg . He was heavily influenced by Paul Hindemith and was a member of the Monday group . From 1960 to 1964 he was Professor of Composition at the Royal Swedish Academy of Music , then from 1965 to 1968 he held the position of Music Director at the Swedish Radio.

His compositions include 3 symphonies , concerts, operas and chamber music as well as electronic and experimental music. He wrote the music for the space opera Aniara . For this he was awarded the Music Prize of the Nordic Council in 1965. Erik Lindegren wrote the libretto based on the verse epic Aniara by Harry Martinson . The world premiere took place in 1959 at the Royal Stockholm Opera under the direction of Sixten Ehrling . Blomdahl also composed the opera Herr von Hancken , the libretto of which was also by Erik Lindegren, inspired by Hjalmar Bergman . The world premiere took place in Stockholm in 1965. Before his death, Blomdahl worked on a third opera, Saga vom Große Computer , based on a text by Nobel Prize winner Hannes Alfvén .

Web links

Page with photo of Blomdahl
The music of the 20th century , published by the Swedish Institute (PDF file; 69 kB)
Hilding Rosenberg
More information about his biography:

Individual evidence

↑ Work data for Aniara based on MGG with discography at Operone - data for the premiere in Stockholm

personal data
SURNAME	Blomdahl, Karl-Birger
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	Swedish composer and conductor
DATE OF BIRTH	October 19, 1916
PLACE OF BIRTH	Vaxjo
DATE OF DEATH	June 14, 1968
Place of death	Kungsängen near Stockholm

[1] Work data for Aniara based on MGG with discography at Operone - data for the premiere in Stockholm