Biographies
All 'Biographies' are listed here in the order that they were published. We aim to have an assortment of biographies of individuals who are Nordic or have a connection to the Nordics, and who have made an impact on Nordic and/or international society in the modern era. Our long term aim is to focus on those who are little known and to be inclusive.
2019.07.19 | Biography, Jenny Rood, Juliette Victor, The arts
Karl-Birger Blomdahl (1916-1968)
Karl-Birger Blomdahl was a Swedish composer and teacher best known for his 1959 prize-winning space opera 'Aniara', his third symphony 'Facetter', his choral work 'I speglarnas sal', as well as other symphonic and chamber pieces.
2019.07.16 | Biography, Jenny Rood, Juliette Victor, The arts
Birgit Nilsson (1918-2005)
Birgit Nilsson was a Swedish soprano who performed in the world’s top opera houses and festivals, noted particularly for her roles in Wagner (especially Isolde in Tristan and Isolde), Puccini (Turandot), and Richard Strauss (Elektra). She is considered perhaps the best Wagnerian soprano of her time.
2019.07.15 | Biography, Jenny Rood, Juliette Victor, The arts
Evert Sixten Ehrling (1918-2005)
Evert Sixten Ehrling was a Swedish conductor who led opera houses and symphony orchestras in Sweden and the United States. He was particularly noted for his recordings of Nordic composers (especially Berwald, Nielsen and Sibelius), his high standards and his technical precision.
2019.07.09 | Biography, Jenny Rood, Juliette Victor, The arts
Fred Åkerström (1937-1985)
Fred Åkerström was a Swedish ballad singer best known for his three albums of interpretations of the eighteenth-century poet Carl Michael Bellman.
2019.07.08 | Biography, Jenny Rood, Juliette Victor, The arts
Cornelis Vreeswijk (1937-1987)
Cornelis Vreeswijk was a Dutch-Swedish songwriter, singer, poet and actor known for his influential role in modernizing the Swedish ballad and introducing it to a wider audience through merging tradition with more diverse musical styles.
2019.07.01 | Biography, Jenny Rood, Juliette Victor, Literature
Bengt Gunnar Ekelöf (1907-1968)
Gunnar Ekelöf was considered one of Sweden’s leading and most important twentieth-century poets who produced deeply intellectual and challenging works that weave in many different languages and cultural influences. A lifelong outsider, he is known for introducing surrealism and modernism to Swedish poetry, and for his late-career Byzantine…
2019.06.28 | Biography, Jenny Rood, Juliette Victor, The arts
Nicolai Gedda (1925-2017)
Nicolai Gedda (given name Harry Gustaf Nikolai Gädda) was a Swedish tenor born in Stockholm who performed mainly in operas and is one of the most widely recorded opera singers. He was known for his versatility and an amazingly high register.
2019.06.26 | Biography, Jenny Rood, Juliette Victor, The arts
Evert Axel Taube (1890-1976)
Evert Taube, Swedish ballad singer, composer, author and artist, made his greatest impact as a ballad composer and balladeer, enriching his work with painterly skill depicting Swedish nature, particularly Stockholm’s archipelago.
2019.06.26 | Biography, Jenny Rood, Juliette Victor, The arts
Povel Ramel (1922-2007)
Povel Karl Henric Ramel was a Swedish singer, pianist, revue creator, author, composer, and comedian famous for his playful style, intelligent lyrics, imitations and parodies, and legendary musical revues. His work was deeply influential for Swedish comedy and entertainment.
2019.04.29 | Biography, Joachim Mickwitz, Pietari Kaapa, Literature
Pentti Saarikoski (1937–1983)
The modernist Finnish writer Pentti Saarikoski became famous for his revolutionary sensibilities and anti-authoritarian Christian faith.