Karl-Birger Blomdahl/Symphony 3

Karl-Birger Blomdahl (1916– 1968) became Hilding Rosenberg’s pupil in the theory of music and composition in 1935. In 1943–44 Blomdahl studied at the State College of Music in Stockholm. At the same time he was one of the initiators of the “Monday Group”. The years 1946–47 were spent abroad, mostly in France and Italy. Back in Sweden, he explored several new fields. He began to collaborate with the Swedish poet Erik Lindegren (1910–1968), for instance in the oratorio I Speglarnas Sal (In the Hall of Mirrors) and the opera “Aniara” (1958),  of which Lindegren wrote the libretto.

By the end of the 1940s Blomdahl already had pupils in composition (Allan Pettersson among others). And 1960–64 he was professor at the State College of Music in Stockholm. Blomdahl was always eager to discuss new ideas. He did a great deal of organizational work within Swedish musical life and in 1965 he became head of the music department of the Swedish Broadcasting Corporation.

The Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra is conducted by Yuri Ahronovitch, the soprano part is sung by Elisabeth Söderström.