He was leading the swedish radio symphony orchestra in the same period 19771982, so he must have been quite busy. Books, and more books during the festivities of some two weeks ago, to celebrate the 90th birthday of the swedish conductor herbert blomstedt, i met a few friends i had not seen for quite some time. The brahms society of schleswigholstein in germany honored the artist for his outstanding services to music and particularly the artistic heritage of johannes brahms. Weniger awards for excellence ceremony at loma linda university church on january 28, 2012, is reproduced here with slight editorial changes. Adventist music legend herbert blomstedt awarded the.
Blomstedts father, pastor blomstedt, was an important role model for him. Blomstedt, born in springfield, massachusetts, in 1927, moved with his family to sweden, where his father served as a pastor and a church administrator. Blomstedt, who will conduct the new york philharmonic in beethovens seventh and eighth symphonies on wednesday, friday and saturday, chatted about a life in music, his seventh. He worked hard during the week, studying and preparing his sermon for the sabbath. Herbert blomstedt, who shows little signs of slowing down, discusses the. More unusual, blomstedt was and remains a devout seventh day adventist. On tuesday, july 11, he celebrated his 90th birthday, yet his plans include conducting 90 concerts this year in venues all around the world. Herbert blomstedt bio, albums, pictures naxos classical music. Adventist conductor wins important award herbert blomstedt is awarded the brahms prize in germany. Bartholomews church in wesseslburen, schleswigholstein, germany. Herbert blomstedt was born in springfield, massachusetts, and two years after his birth, his swedish parents moved the family back to. Singt unserm gott liederbuch osterreich 2018 textausgabe. T he brahms prize 2017, an important musical award endowed with 10,000 euros, was recently presented to swedish seventhday adventist conductor herbert blomstedt.
That means a lot of traveling, rehearsal days, and interviews activities that go handinhand with such an intense program. According to the berlin classics liner notes the sd, which chose blomstedt, was never looked upon very favourably by the ruling party. The award ceremony took place on june 10 at the st. Herbert blomstedt international adventist musicians association. Present truth in music by herbert blomstedt the following address, delivered at the charles e.
Blomstedt giving a lecture on brahms choral music during the choral festival in lund, sweden 2008. Herbert blomstedt used to sneak into the backstage area of carnegie hall to. A conversation with herbert blomstedt adventist voices. On friday evening i close the books, i play for those who come to. Yet, though he observes the sabbath as of sundown friday, he conducts concerts on friday nights. Herbert blomstedts religious faith has been as firm a theme in his life as music both are matters of inheritance as well as conviction. Andrews university is pleased to welcome worldrenowned seventhday adventist conductor maestro herbert blomstedt to campus.
Biography and work for herbert blomstedt, listen to classical music and. Herbert blomstedts recordings of the beethoven symphonies with the dresden staatskapelle seem to be largely overlooked in favor of more famous conductors and orchestras. Nobody would think badly of maestro herbert blomstedt, now in the evening of life, if he decided to slow down his pace a little. Herbert blomstedt, internationally acclaimed orchestra conductor, has enjoyed. A devout seventhday adventist, blomstedt does not rehearse on friday nights or saturdays, the sabbath in seventhday adventism.
Two years after his birth, his swedish parents moved the family back to their country of origin. Herbert blomstedt on the timelessness of hymnody february. Herbert blomstedt was born in springfield, massachusetts. A committed christian, he is a leading figure in the seventh day adventist church. One of them was per bolling, a swedish pastor, who in the past served for some years as the manager of the adventist publishing house in sweden. Nicolas slonimsky, bakers biographical dictionary, schirmer books, eighth. But when the sun set on friday evening, he left his books and notes to be with his family, who played music all friday evening. The eulogy in his honour was given by music critic julia spinola whose book of interviews with him, herbert blomstedt mission music, was published in april henschel verlag barenreiter verlag, 2017. The day before our conversation, herbert had received the brahms. He studied at the stockholm royal college of music and the university of uppsala, followed by studies of contemporary music at darmstadt in 1949, baroque music with paul sacher at the. But there is still something astonishing about the pace being kept by the swedish maestro herbert blomstedt, who will turn 90 in july and is conducting more than 90 concerts this year with the. Sinfonien 19 the complete symphonies herbert blomstedt. The 2017 brahms prize was awarded to the swedish conductor herbert blomstedt who is an adventist by faith.
The conductor laureate herbert blomstedt discusses his strict and musical adventist upbringing, his favorite hymns and the changing landscape of hymnals, why he pursued a career as a conductor, and what concerts he has in store. Herbert blomstedt, a lifelong seventhday adventist, and one of the worlds. Herbert blomstedt, a lifelong seventhday adventist, and one of the worlds most respected classical music conductors, turns 90 on july 11, 2017. Maestro herbert blomstedt to visit andrews andrews agenda. Sinfonien 19 the complete symphonies herbert blomstedt, gewandhausorchester leipzig, simona saturova, mihoko fujimura, christian elsner, christian. A devout seventhday adventist who eschews alcohol, tobacco. Yet this set has a lot going for it, including wonderful playing by the dresdeners and late analogue sound that should be the envy of many digitalera recordings.
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