Herbert Blomstedt, seven-decade conductor, dies aged 99

Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 5 Nov, 08:37 · Archive

Herbert Blomstedt, Swedish-American conductor whose career spanned seven decades, has died aged 99.

Herbert Blomstedt, the Swedish-American conductor, has died aged 99. Born in Massachusetts in July 1927 to Swedish parents, he grew up in Sweden and Finland. His conducting career spanned seven decades, and he continued to perform well into his late 90s.

Blomstedt held several prominent positions throughout his career. He made his conducting debut with the Stockholm Philharmonic in 1954. He served as principal conductor of the Oslo Philharmonic from 1962 to 1968 and held the same role with the Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra from 1967 to 1977. He led the Staatskapelle Dresden from 1975 to 1985 and was music director of the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra from 1985 to 1995. From 1998 to 2005, he worked with the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra. In his final years, he developed a close relationship with London's Philharmonia, first conducting the orchestra in 2006.

His final performance was in May this year at age 98 with the San Francisco Symphony, when he conducted Gustav Mahler's Ninth Symphony at Davies Hall. According to the New York Post, he entered the stage in a wheelchair and the performance halted for several minutes during the third movement. He was 97 when he last conducted in London in November 2024, also performing Mahler's Ninth Symphony. He won Grammy Awards for recordings with the San Francisco Symphony, including Carl Orff's 'Carmina Burana' in 1993 and Johannes Brahms' 'Ein Deutsches Requiem' in 1996.

Blomstedt was a Seventh-day Adventist who refused to conduct rehearsals on Friday nights and Saturdays because of the Sabbath, though he would lead performances on those days. He died at his home in Gothenburg, Sweden. The Vienna Philharmonic had scheduled performances with him into 2027, and chairman Daniel Froschauer said: 'Until the very end, we had hoped to celebrate his 100th birthday with a concert together.'

How it is being reported

• Herbert Blomstedt, who headed San Francisco Symphony, dead at 99Herbert Blomstedt, the former San Francisco Symphony music director whose conducting career spanned seven decades, has died at age 99.New York Post · 5 Nov, 08:17
• Herbert Blomstedt, conductor of great orchestras for seven decades, dies at 99Modest in his demeanor but remarkably enduring, the American-born, Swedish conductor continually fell in love with music, leading orchestras with no-nonsense insight and integrity well into his 90s.NPR · 4 Nov, 20:11
• Herbert Blomstedt, renowned conductor with a seven-decade career, dies aged 99The much loved Swedish-American musician, particularly known for his work with the San Francisco Symphony and Leipzig Gewandhaus, continued performing until earlier this year The conductor Herbert Blomstedt has died aged 99. His career stretched over an extraordinary seven decades and he continued to conduct and tour into his late 90s; his final concert was earlier this year, aged 98. Born in Massachusetts, US, in July 1927 to Swedish parents, the musician grew up in Sweden and Finland. His conducting tutors included Igor Markevitch, Jean Morel and Leonard Bernstein. Continue reading...The Guardian · 4 Nov, 16:54

In this story: Herbert Blomstedt · San Francisco Symphony · Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra · Stockholm Philharmonic · Staatskapelle Dresden · Philharmonia · Vienna Philharmonic · Gothenburg

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