Robert Kajanus
Robert Kajanus (born December 2, 1856 in Helsinki , † July 6, 1933 there ) was a Finnish conductor and composer.
Kajanus studied music in Helsinki with Richard Faltin , in Leipzig with Ernst Friedrich Richter , Carl Reinecke and Salomon Jadassohn and in Paris with Johan Svendsen . In 1882 he founded the first full orchestra in Finland as a conductor, which in 1914 became part of the larger Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra and which he directed for 50 years until 1932. He also worked as the University Music Director in Helsinki for over 30 years.
In addition to his work as a conductor, Kajanus also emerged as a composer. Like Jean Sibelius , he took Finnish folk tales and fairy tales as the basis and thematic material for his symphonic compositions. In 1900 he visited the Paris World Exhibition with his orchestra , and now the western music world became aware of the new musical creation in Finland. He left behind symphonic works, Finnish rhapsodies, cantatas, piano music and songs.
He is the great-grandfather of Georg Kajanus, the former lead singer of the British band Sailor .
Individual evidence
- ↑ Biography at Naxos
- ↑ Information from the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra
- ↑ Brief vita in the Encyclopædia Britannica
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Kajanus, Robert |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Finnish conductor and composer |
| DATE OF BIRTH | December 2, 1856 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Helsinki |
| DATE OF DEATH | July 6, 1933 |
| Place of death | Helsinki |