Stig Westerberg
Encyclopedia
Stig Evald Börje Westerberg, born 26 November 1918 in Malmö
, Sweden, died 1 July 1999 in Lidingö
, was a Swedish conductor
and pianist
, whose career was based mostly in his home country.
for conducting. After the Second World War, he also studied in Paris with Paul Kletzki
.
He was a repetiteur at the Royal Swedish Opera
from 1943 to 1946, also making he debut conducting the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra
1946. Other positions held during this time were Conductor of the Oscarsteatern from 1947-48, and Musical Director of Gävle Symfoniorkester from 1949 to 1953, and conductor at the Royal Swedish Opera from 1953 to 1957.
For 25 years, Westerberg conducted the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra
– from 1958 to 1983 and raised the standard of the ensemble to international level. He championed Swedish composers such as Hugo Alfvén
, Kurt Atterberg
, Allan Pettersson
and Wilhelm Stenhammar
alongside the core repertoire.
From 1978 to 1985, he was chief conductor of the Malmö Symphony Orchestra
.
Westerberg premiered over 80 works and left a major legacy of broadcasts and of recordings on the BIS Records
, Caprice, Sterling
and Swedish Society labels.
, Elisabeth Söderström
and Erik Saedén
, as well as some opera records, such as Aniara
and Estrella de Soria
. Radio recordings included Elgar, Grieg and Offenbach.
Malmö
Malmö , in the southernmost province of Scania, is the third most populous city in Sweden, after Stockholm and Gothenburg.Malmö is the seat of Malmö Municipality and the capital of Skåne County...
, Sweden, died 1 July 1999 in Lidingö
Lidingö
Lidingö is an island in the inner Stockholm archipelago, located north east of central Stockholm, the capital of Sweden. It is also the seat of Lidingö Municipality, Stockholm County, Sweden with 44,000 inhabitants in 2011....
, was a Swedish conductor
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
and pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
, whose career was based mostly in his home country.
Biography
Stig Westerberg studied Royal Academy of Music in Stockholm from 1937-42, with Melchior Melchers for theory and Tor MannTor Mann
Tor Mann was a Swedish conductor.Mann was principal conductor of the Göteborgs Symfoniker from 1925 to 1939, and the Sveriges Radios Symfoniorkester from 1939 to 1959....
for conducting. After the Second World War, he also studied in Paris with Paul Kletzki
Paul Kletzki
Paul Kletzki was a Polish conductor and composer.Born Paweł Klecki in Łódź, Poland, he later adopted the German spelling Paul Kletzki. He joined its Philharmonic Orchestra at the age of fifteen. After serving in the First World War, he studied philosophy at the University of Warsaw before moving...
.
He was a repetiteur at the Royal Swedish Opera
Royal Swedish Opera
Kungliga Operan is Sweden's national stage for opera and ballet.-Location and Environment:...
from 1943 to 1946, also making he debut conducting the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra
Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra
Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra is a radio orchestra based in Stockholm, Sweden, and affiliated with Sveriges Radio . The orchestra broadcasts concerts on the Swedish Radio-P2 network....
1946. Other positions held during this time were Conductor of the Oscarsteatern from 1947-48, and Musical Director of Gävle Symfoniorkester from 1949 to 1953, and conductor at the Royal Swedish Opera from 1953 to 1957.
For 25 years, Westerberg conducted the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra
Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra
Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra is a radio orchestra based in Stockholm, Sweden, and affiliated with Sveriges Radio . The orchestra broadcasts concerts on the Swedish Radio-P2 network....
– from 1958 to 1983 and raised the standard of the ensemble to international level. He championed Swedish composers such as Hugo Alfvén
Hugo Alfvén
was a Swedish composer, conductor, violinist, and painter.- Violinist :Alfvén was born in Stockholm and studied at the Music Conservatory there from 1887 to 1891 with the violin as his main instrument, receiving lessons from Lars Zetterquist. He also took private composition lessons from Johan...
, Kurt Atterberg
Kurt Atterberg
Kurt Magnus Atterberg was a Swedish composer. He is best known for his symphonies, operas and ballets. Atterberg once said that: "The Russians, Brahms, Reger were my ideals." His music combines their influences with Swedish folk tunes.-Biography:Atterberg was born in Gothenburg as the son of the...
, Allan Pettersson
Allan Pettersson
Gustav Allan Pettersson was a Swedish composer. Today he is considered one of the most important Swedish composers of the 20th century...
and Wilhelm Stenhammar
Wilhelm Stenhammar
Carl 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...
alongside the core repertoire.
From 1978 to 1985, he was chief conductor of the Malmö Symphony Orchestra
Malmö Symphony Orchestra
The Malmö Symphony Orchestra is a Swedish orchestra, based in Malmö. Since 1985, the orchestra has given its main concert series in the Konserthuset, Malmö. The orchestra has a current complement of 94 musicians...
.
Westerberg premiered over 80 works and left a major legacy of broadcasts and of recordings on the BIS Records
BIS
Bis is a prefix or suffix designating the second instance of a thing, thus preceding ter.Bis can also refer to:* Bis , a Scottish pop band* Bis , a high-teens' magazine published by Kobunsha of Japan...
, Caprice, Sterling
Sterling Records (Sweden)
Sterling Records is a classical music record label, specializing in releasing world premiere recordings of the orchestral work of romantic composers....
and Swedish Society labels.
Recordings
Westerberg's discography consists of many 19th and 20th century Swedish orchestral works, including Förklädd Gud by Larsson with Lars EkborgLars Ekborg
Lars Åke Rupert Ekborg, born 6 June 1926 in Uppsala, died 7 October 1969, was a Swedish actor.Ekborg was the father of actors Dan and Anders Ekborg...
, Elisabeth Söderström
Elisabeth Söderström
Elisabeth Anna Söderström CBE was a Swedish soprano, who performed both opera and song. She was particularly well known for her recordings of the lead soprano roles in the three Janáček operas Jenůfa, Káťa Kabanová, and The Makropoulos Affair, all of which received Gramophone Awards...
and Erik Saedén
Erik Saedén
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...
, as well as some opera records, such as Aniara
Aniara (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"....
and Estrella de Soria
Estrella de Soria
Estrella de Soria is a three-act opera by Franz Berwald, to a libretto by Otto Prechtler translated into Swedish by Ernst Wallmark.It was first performed at the Royal Swedish Opera, Stockholm on 9 April 1862 and had five performances in that run. It has never entered the repertory, although it was...
. Radio recordings included Elgar, Grieg and Offenbach.