Otto Olsson

Olsson became a central figure on Sweden’s music scene. During the years 1901–03, he wrote Requiem in G minor, op. 13, for vocal soloists, choir, and orchestra, a work that turned out to recieve few opportunities to be performed, as Olsson was still an unknown composer. It was not until 1971, seven years after Olsson’s death, that the Swedish Radio producer and Otto Olsson-specialist, Curt Carlsson, found the work among manuscripts left after Olsson’s death.

The work premiered in 1976 in connection with Stockholms Kyrkomusikerförening’s (Stockholm Church Music Association’s) 75th anniversary. The concert took place in Otto Olsson’s ”own” church, Gustav Vasa, where he had been employed as organist for nearly 50 years. This recording was recorded digitally in Stockholm’s Konserthus (Stockholm’s Concert Hall). The soloists are: MariAnne Häggander, soprano; Else Paaske, alto; Anders Andersson, tenor; and Lage Wedin, baritone.