“Herbert was a magnificent musician, an unparalleled source of knowledge, an inspirer and leader who always focused on the composer's innermost intentions,” says the academy's president Stefan Forsberg in a statement.
Herbert Blomstedt began his conducting career as the 27-year-old chief conductor of the Norrköping Symphony Orchestra in the mid-1950s. There he laid the foundation for an international reputation that later led him to world-leading orchestras in several of the world's music metropolises.
Still active
The 99-year-old was active until the end and had concerts booked in Germany this spring and also at the Stockholm Concert Hall in May.
His most recent performance was earlier this year in San Francisco, where he was the symphony orchestra's honorary conductor. The performance had to be temporarily interrupted after Blomstedt, who was reported to be very frail, collapsed during the third movement of Mahler's Ninth Symphony, writes The Guardian.
"Almost indescribable"
In March of this year, Blomstedt returned to the Norrköping Symphony Orchestra for a two-day guest appearance. The orchestra's artistic director Sofia Winiarski says it was an incredibly special event.
That he came here to, as he described it, give back. It is almost indescribable, what unfolded during that week is a memory for life, she tells TT.
How would you describe Herbert Blomstedt?
He was light, love and a person so completely free from ego. An incredibly humble person, full of life. It was so cool to see him go up to the podium, it was as if he was connecting with people of all ages. At the same time, of course, he was incredibly fragile because of his advanced age.
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