Erik Saedén
Encyclopedia
Carl Erik Saedén, born 3 September 1924 in Vänersborg
, died 3 November 2009, was a Swedish bass-baritone
whose career was principally centred on Stockholm
, both on the operatic stage as well as the concert platform. He made a few recordings and appeared in the 1975 Bergman
film of The magic flute
.
from 1943–52, his teachers there including Arne Sunnegårdh, Martin Öhman and Wilhelm Freund
. He received degrees in higher cantor and organist degree from the Royal College of Music in 1946, and a degree in vocal teaching 1952. Having joined the choir of Engelbrektskyrkan in 1944 (where he later sang in the St Matthew Passion), Saedén studied in Rome
in 1952 and at the Salzburg
Mozarteum in 1952, 1954 and 1955.
In 1965 he became a member of the Stockholm Music Academy, and in 1966 a Swedish hovsångare (court singer by special appointement). From 1957 to 1983 he was singing teacher at the Royal College of Music, Stockholm. In 1974 he received the medal of Litteris et artibus. At the same time he worked as a teacher the Royal Music Academy in Stockholm.
Saedén first appeared at the Royal Opera
in Stockholm in 1952 and was a member of the company until 1981. Among over 100 roles which he sang were the Count (Le Nozze di Figaro), Beckmesser, Wolfram (Tannhäuser), Scarpia, Jochanaan, Golaud, Pimen, Wozzeck (Swedish premiere, 1957) and Nick Shadow in The Rake's Progress (Swedish premiere, 1961).
He created roles in several opera premieres:
Appearances outside Sweden included Bayreuth (Kurwenal in Tristan und Isolde
, Herald in Lohengrin and Donner in Rheingold), the Edinburgh Festival
in 1959 and 1974), Savonlinna in 1989 (Henrik in Singoalla
by Gunnar de Frumerie
), Hamburg
, the Covent Garden
(1960, 1981), Montreal
(1967), Moscow
, Munich
and Oslo
.
Vänersborg
Vänersborg is a locality and the seat of Vänersborg Municipality, Västra Götaland County, Sweden with 21,672 inhabitants in 2005. Until 1997 it was the capital of Älvsborg County, which was dissolved in 1998. Since 1999 Vänersborg is the seat of the regional parliament of Västra Götaland County...
, died 3 November 2009, was a Swedish bass-baritone
Bass-baritone
A bass-baritone is a high-lying bass or low-lying "classical" baritone voice type which shares certain qualities with the true baritone voice. The term arose in the late 19th century to describe the particular type of voice required to sing three Wagnerian roles: the Dutchman in Der fliegende...
whose career was principally centred on Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
, both on the operatic stage as well as the concert platform. He made a few recordings and appeared in the 1975 Bergman
Ingmar Bergman
Ernst Ingmar Bergman was a Swedish director, writer and producer for film, stage and television. Described by Woody Allen as "probably the greatest film artist, all things considered, since the invention of the motion picture camera", he is recognized as one of the most accomplished and...
film of The magic flute
The Magic Flute (1975 film)
The Magic Flute is Ingmar Bergman's 1975 film version of Mozart's opera Die Zauberflöte. It was intended as a television production and was first shown on Swedish television but was followed by a cinema release later that year. The film was shown at the 1975 Cannes Film Festival, but was not...
.
Career
Saedén studied at the Kungliga Musikhögskolan in StockholmStockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
from 1943–52, his teachers there including Arne Sunnegårdh, Martin Öhman and Wilhelm Freund
Wilhelm Freund
Wilhelm Freund was a German Jewish philologist, born at Kempen. He studied education at Berlin and Breslau, and was chiefly occupied in teaching till 1870, when he retired in order to devote himself to his literary pursuits...
. He received degrees in higher cantor and organist degree from the Royal College of Music in 1946, and a degree in vocal teaching 1952. Having joined the choir of Engelbrektskyrkan in 1944 (where he later sang in the St Matthew Passion), Saedén studied in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
in 1952 and at the Salzburg
Salzburg
-Population development:In 1935, the population significantly increased when Salzburg absorbed adjacent municipalities. After World War II, numerous refugees found a new home in the city. New residential space was created for American soldiers of the postwar Occupation, and could be used for...
Mozarteum in 1952, 1954 and 1955.
In 1965 he became a member of the Stockholm Music Academy, and in 1966 a Swedish hovsångare (court singer by special appointement). From 1957 to 1983 he was singing teacher at the Royal College of Music, Stockholm. In 1974 he received the medal of Litteris et artibus. At the same time he worked as a teacher the Royal Music Academy in Stockholm.
Saedén first appeared at the Royal Opera
Royal Swedish Opera
Kungliga Operan is Sweden's national stage for opera and ballet.-Location and Environment:...
in Stockholm in 1952 and was a member of the company until 1981. Among over 100 roles which he sang were the Count (Le Nozze di Figaro), Beckmesser, Wolfram (Tannhäuser), Scarpia, Jochanaan, Golaud, Pimen, Wozzeck (Swedish premiere, 1957) and Nick Shadow in The Rake's Progress (Swedish premiere, 1961).
He created roles in several opera premieres:
- Ture RangströmTure RangströmAnders Johan Ture Rangström belonged to a new generation of Swedish composers who in the first decade of the 20th century introduced modernism to their compositions. In addition to composing Rangström was also a musical critic and conductor.Rangström was born in Stockholm, where initially he...
: title role in Gilgamesj (Stockholm, 1952) - Karl-Birger BlomdahlKarl-Birger BlomdahlKarl-Birger Blomdahl was a Swedish composer and conductor born in Växjö. He was educated in biochemistry, but was primarily active in music and by his experimental compositions he became one of the big names in Swedish modernism. His teachers included Hilding Rosenberg...
: Mimaroben in AniaraAniara (opera)Aniara is an opera in two acts by Karl-Birger Blomdahl, with a libretto by Erik Lindegren based on the poem Aniara by Harry Martinson, that was premiered in 1959. The opera was described by the composer as a "review about Man in Time and Space"....
(1959) - Lars-Johan Werle: Julien in Drömmen om Thérèse (1964)
- Hilding RosenbergHilding RosenbergHilding Rosenberg , was the first Swedish modernist composer, and one of the most influential figures in Swedish 20th century classical music....
: Don Felix in Hus med dubbel ingång - Franz BerwaldFranz BerwaldFranz Adolf Berwald was a Swedish Romantic composer who was generally ignored during his lifetime. He made his living as an orthopedic surgeon and later as the manager of a saw mill and glass factory....
: Saint Phar in The Queen of GolcondaThe Queen of GolcondaDrottningen av Golconda is a three-act romantic opera by Franz Berwald. The libretto was adapted by the composer from one by Vial and Favières intended for Henri Montan Berton; this had been based on another by Michel-Jean Sedaine...
, (1968, centennial premiere) - Luigi DallapiccolaLuigi DallapiccolaLuigi Dallapiccola was an Italian composer known for his lyrical twelve-tone compositions.-Biography:Dallapiccola was born at Pisino d'Istria , to Italian parents....
: title role in UlisseUlisseUlisse is an opera in a Prologue and two acts composed by Luigi Dallapiccola to his own libretto based on the legend of Ulysses. It premiered at the Deutsche Oper in Berlin on 27 November 1968 conducted by Lorin Maazel with Erik Saedén in the title role. Ulisse was Dallapiccola's last opera and...
(Deutsche Oper, Berlin, 1968) - György LigetiGyörgy LigetiGyörgy Sándor Ligeti was a composer of contemporary classical music. Born in a Hungarian Jewish family in Transylvania, Romania, he briefly lived in Hungary before becoming an Austrian citizen.-Early life:...
: in Le Grand MacabreLe Grand MacabreLe Grand Macabre is György Ligeti's only opera. The opera has two acts and its libretto – loosely based on the 1934 play, La Balade du grand macabre, by Michel De Ghelderode – was written by Ligeti in collaboration with Michael Meschke...
(1978) - Lars Runsten: Amorina (1993).
Appearances outside Sweden included Bayreuth (Kurwenal in Tristan und Isolde
Tristan und Isolde
Tristan und Isolde is an opera, or music drama, in three acts by Richard Wagner to a German libretto by the composer, based largely on the romance by Gottfried von Straßburg. It was composed between 1857 and 1859 and premiered in Munich on 10 June 1865 with Hans von Bülow conducting...
, Herald in Lohengrin and Donner in Rheingold), the Edinburgh Festival
Edinburgh Festival
The Edinburgh Festival is a collective term for many arts and cultural festivals that take place in Edinburgh, Scotland each summer, mostly in August...
in 1959 and 1974), Savonlinna in 1989 (Henrik in Singoalla
Singoalla
This is not officially a real solo album from Thåström but more of a soundtrack to a novel with the same name by Victor Rydberg, written in 1857. The album was only released in 1000 copies during its first release in 1998, but it was re-released in 2002 with a new cover...
by Gunnar de Frumerie
Gunnar de Frumerie
Per Gunnar Fredrik de Frumerie was a Swedish composer and pianist. He was the son of architect Gustaf de Frumerie and Maria Helleday....
), Hamburg
Hamburg
-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
, the Covent Garden
Royal Opera House
The Royal Opera House is an opera house and major performing arts venue in Covent Garden, central London. The large building is often referred to as simply "Covent Garden", after a previous use of the site of the opera house's original construction in 1732. It is the home of The Royal Opera, The...
(1960, 1981), Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
(1967), Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
, Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
and Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
.
Recordings
- Mimaroben in Aniara by Karl-Birger Blomdahl (also television)
- Unzu in Tranfjädrarna by Sven-Erik Bäck (also television)
- Die Winterreise (Franz SchubertFranz SchubertFranz Peter Schubert was an Austrian composer.Although he died at an early age, Schubert was tremendously prolific. He wrote some 600 Lieder, nine symphonies , liturgical music, operas, some incidental music, and a large body of chamber and solo piano music...
) - St Matthew Passion under the baton of Eric Ericson (1963) – arias
- art songs by Johannes BrahmsJohannes BrahmsJohannes Brahms was a German composer and pianist, and one of the leading musicians of the Romantic period. Born in Hamburg, Brahms spent much of his professional life in Vienna, Austria, where he was a leader of the musical scene...
, Claude DebussyClaude DebussyClaude-Achille Debussy was a French composer. Along with Maurice Ravel, he was one of the most prominent figures working within the field of impressionist music, though he himself intensely disliked the term when applied to his compositions...
, S. von Koch, Modest MussorgskyModest MussorgskyModest Petrovich Mussorgsky was a Russian composer, one of the group known as 'The Five'. He was an innovator of Russian music in the romantic period...
, Ture RangströmTure RangströmAnders Johan Ture Rangström belonged to a new generation of Swedish composers who in the first decade of the 20th century introduced modernism to their compositions. In addition to composing Rangström was also a musical critic and conductor.Rangström was born in Stockholm, where initially he...
, Birger SjöbergBirger SjöbergBirger Sjöberg was a modern Swedish poet and songwriter.Originally a journalist, Sjöberg wrote songs in his spare time. His first collection Frida's Book was extremely popular...
, Wilhelm StenhammarWilhelm StenhammarCarl Wilhelm Eugen Stenhammar was a Swedish composer, conductor and pianist.-Biography:Stenhammar was born in Stockholm, where he received his first musical education. He then went to Berlin to further his studies in music. He became a glowing admirer of German music, particularly that of Richard...
and Evert TaubeEvert TaubeEvert Axel Taube was a Swedish author, artist, composer and singer. He is best known for his folk songs, and is widely regarded as one of Sweden's most respected musicians.-Biography:... - Den glada änkan by Franz Lehár
- Speaker in TrollflöjtenThe Magic Flute (1975 film)The Magic Flute is Ingmar Bergman's 1975 film version of Mozart's opera Die Zauberflöte. It was intended as a television production and was first shown on Swedish television but was followed by a cinema release later that year. The film was shown at the 1975 Cannes Film Festival, but was not...
by Mozart, HMV (1975) - Barfotasånger by Allan PetterssonAllan PetterssonGustav Allan Pettersson was a Swedish composer. Today he is considered one of the most important Swedish composers of the 20th century...
, Swedish Society - Fader Henrik in Singoalla by Gunnar de Frumerie, Caprice
- Rheingold by Richard Wagner, Melodram
- Leporello in Don Giovanni by Mozart
- The marriage of Figaro by Mozart (Drottningholm, video)