Karl-Birger Blomdahl

Born Oct. 19, 1916, in Vákjö; died June 14, 1968, in Stockholm. Swedish composer.

Blomdahl studied under H. Rosenberg at the Stockholm Conservatory (beginning in 1934), and he completed his studies in Paris (1941–42) and Rome (1946–47). In 1955 he became head of the Stockholm Philharmonic and the Swedish Composers’ Union. The early works of P. Hindemith had an influence on the formation of Blomdahl’s creative art. He visited the USSR in 1958.

Blomdahl wrote the operas Aniara (produced in 1959) and Herr von Hancken (produced in 1965); the ballet suite Sisyphus (produced in 1957); the cantatas In the Hall of Mirrors (nine sonnets, 1953), and Anabasis (1956); three symphonies (1943, 1947, and 1951) and other works for orchestra; concertos for various instruments and orchestra; and chamber works.