Wikipedia

Leif Segerstam

Leif Selim Segerstam[1] (/ˈleɪf/ LAYF, Swedish: [ˈlɛjf ˈsěːɡɛʂʈam];[citation needed] born 2 March 1944) is a Finnish conductor, composer, violinist, violist and pianist, especially known for writing 371 symphonies (as of January 2024), along with other works in his extensive oeuvre.

Segerstam in Turku, Finland, 2011

Segerstam has conducted a variety of orchestras since 1963; mostly American, Australian and European.[1][2] He is widely known through his recordings, which include the complete symphonies of Blomdahl, Brahms, Mahler, Nielsen, and Sibelius, as well as many works by contemporary composers, such as the American composers John Corigliano and Christopher Rouse, the Finnish composer Einojuhani Rautavaara, Swedish composer Allan Pettersson and the Russian composer Alfred Schnittke.[3][4][5]

His contributions to the Finnish music scene, and his vibrant personality,[5][6] have contributed to his fame. He is well known for his high energy during performances, contributing to the musicality of the orchestra as a whole.[7]

Biography edit

 
Segerstam with the Philharmonia at the 2012 Summer Olympics, 31 July 2012

Leif Segerstam was born on 2 March 1944 in Vaasa, to Selim Segerstam and Viola Maria Kronqvist, into a musical family.[8] Selim made several song books as a living.[9] The Segerstams then moved to Helsinki in 1947. In Leif's time in school, he played the violin and the viola in the Helsinki Youth Orchestra.[8]

Segerstam's debut concert as a violinist was in 1962,[9] and his conducting debut was in 1963, with Rossini's The Barber of Seville, in Tampere.[2] Following the premiere, Segerstam was hired to conduct the Finnish National Opera, and a year later, he conducted the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra. He conducted modern works, such as Stravinsky's Symphony of Psalms and Shostakovich's 1st symphony.[8]

Segerstam studied violin, piano and conducting at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, and received a diploma in conducting in 1963. He studied conducting as well at the Juilliard School in New York with Jean Morel, and received his postgraduate diploma in 1965.[10][1][11]

Segerstam became the conductor, and later on, artistic director of the Stockholm's Royal Opera in 1968 and began working with the German Opera in Berlin as well as the Finnish National Opera in the early 1970s.[12] Segerstam served as chief conductor of the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra from 1995 to 2007, and now holds the title of Chief Conductor Emeritus with the orchestra. At the same time, he was chief conductor of the Stockholm's Royal Opera and the Savonlinna Opera Festival in Finland until 2000.[12] He has held positions with numerous other orchestras, including the Danish National Radio Symphony and the Austrian Radio Symphony, and has guest-conducted many orchestras throughout the world including the Chicago Symphony, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Toronto Symphony, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Symphony Orchestra of the State of São Paulo. From autumn 1997 to spring 2013, he was Professor of Orchestra Conducting at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki.[13] His students include Susanna Mälkki, Mikk Murdvee, Sasha Mäkilä and Markku Laakso.[14]

In 2004, he made a cameo appearance in the film Pelicanman.

Compositions edit

As a composer, he is especially known for his many symphonies, which number 371 as of March 2024.[15][16][17] Most of his symphonies last for about 20 minutes, are formed of a single movement and are performed without a conductor. An example of this would be his 37th symphony which at its premiere featured Segerstam at the piano, leading the orchestra "in a relatively free form".[18] This is partially inspired by Sibelius' 7th symphony.[6] More than a hundred of Segerstam's symphonies have been performed.[19]

Many of his compositions are influenced by nature, and he is often praised for his contributions to Nordic music.[20] He developed a personal approach to aleatory composition through a style called "free pulsation" in which musical events interact flexibly in time,[5] with his composition method persistent throughout his œuvre.[21] His fifth string quartet, the 'Lemming' (1970), ushered in his new chapter of post-expressionistic writing of the 1960s.[22] This composition approach proved to be a quick way of writing large blocks of sound (the temporal order of events being left to the performer) and permitted an exceptionally prolific output. Instead of constituting individual works, his music is more like a musical stream of consciousness (under the headings of Thoughts, Episode and Orchestral Diary Sheet). It also means that there are numerous scorings of the same piece.[22] This method was first used in his 5th String Quartet, the "Lemming Quartet".[21][23]

Among Segerstam's juvenilia (1960–1969) are four string quartets from 1962–1966, and the post-impressionist ballet Pandora from 1967. The quartets are usually labeled as from his "Post-Expressionist" period.[8][16][21]

In 2015 Segerstam began work on an opera, Völvan, with a libretto by Elisabeth Wärnfeldt.[5][24]

Personal life edit

He was married to the violinist Hannele Segerstam [fi] (concertmaster of the Finnish RSO), with whom he had two children, Jan and Pia. Pia is a professional cellist; Jan is a businessman.[25] After Segerstam's divorce from Hannele, he married the Helsinki Philharmonic harpist Minnaleena Jankko in 2002, with whom he had three children: Violaelina (born 1997), Selimoskar (born 1998) and Iirisilona (born 1999).[9][26] In 2009, it was announced that their marriage would end.[26][27]

Works edit

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Leif Segerstam.
  • 352 symphonies (as of May 2022)[28]
  • 30 string quartets
  • 13 violin concertos
  • 8 cello concertos
  • 4 viola concertos
  • 4 piano concertos

Awards edit

In 1962, he won the Maj Lind Piano Competition.[13] In 1999, he was awarded the Nordic Council Music Prize for his work as a "tireless champion of Scandinavian Music".[3] In spring 2003, he received Svenska Kulturfonden’s prize for his meritorious action in the field of music. In 2014, the President of Finland granted Segerstam the title of Professor[12] and he was awarded the annual State Prize for Music in Finland. In 2005, he was awarded the highly esteemed Sibelius Medal.[29]

Selected discography edit

This is a list of selected orchestral recordings conducted by Segerstam.

Album Title Label Year Featured Artists
BRAHMS, J.: Symphony No. 1 / SEGERSTAM, L.: Symphony No. 288, "Letting the FLOW go on…" Alba 2016 Turku Philharmonic Orchestra
BRAHMS, J.: Symphony No. 2 / SEGERSTAM, L.: Symphony No. 289, "When a Cat Visited" Alba 2018 Turku Philharmonic Orchestra
BRAHMS, J.: Symphony No. 3 / SEGERSTAM, L.: Symphony No. 294, "Songs of a UNICORN heralding …" Alba 2019 Turku Philharmonic Orchestra
BRAHMS, J.: Symphony No. 4 / SEGERSTAM, L.: Symphony No. 295, "ulFSöDErBlom in Memoriam …" Alba 2019 Turku Philharmonic Orchestra
AUBERT, L.: Orchestral Works – Cinéma / Feuille d'Images / Offrande / Dryade SWR Classic Archive 1994 Louis Aubert, Rheinland-Pfalz State Philharmonic
BEETHOVEN, L. van: König Stephan / Leonore Prohaska (excerpts) Naxos 2020 The Key Ensemble, Chorus Cathedralis Aboensis, Turku Philharmonic Orchestra
BEETHOVEN, L. van: Ruinen von Athen (Die) (The Ruins of Athens) Naxos 2020 Chorus Cathedralis Aboensis, Turku Philharmonic Orchestra
BORUP-JORGENSEN: Sommasvit / Nordisk Sommerpastorale Dacapo 1995 Axel Borup-Jørgensen, Danish National Radio Symphony Orchestra
LANGGAARD: Symphony No. 1 / From the Deep Chandos 1994
MAHLER, G.: Symphonies Nos. 7 and 9 Chandos 1992 Danish National Radio Symphony Orchestra
MAHLER, G.: Symphony No. 3 Chandos 1991 Anne Gjevang, Copenhagen Boys' Choir, Danish National Radio Symphony Orchestra and Choir
MAHLER, G.: Symphony No. 4 Alba 2020 Turku Philharmonic Orchestra
MAHLER, G.: Symphony Nos. 10 and 8 Chandos 1994 Danish National Radio Symphony Orchestra and Choir
NØRGÅRD, P.: Symphonies Nos. 4 and 5 Chandos 1997 Per Nørgård, Danish National Radio Symphony Orchestra
NØRGÅRD, P.: Symphony No. 2 / Sinfonia Austera Chandos 1996 Per Nørgård, Danish National Radio Symphony Orchestra
NØRGÅRD, P.: Symphony No. 3 / Concerto in due tempi Chandos 1996 Per Nørgård, Danish National Radio Symphony Orchestra and Choir
PETTERSSON, A.: Symphonies Nos. 3 and 15 BIS 1994 Allan Pettersson, Norrköping Symphony Orchestra
PETTERSSON, A.: Symphonies Nos. 7 and 11 BIS 1993 Allan Pettersson, Norrköping Symphony Orchestra
PETTERSSON, A.: Symphonies Nos. 8 and 10 BIS 1998 Allan Pettersson, Norrköping Symphony Orchestra
RAUTAVAARA, E.: Before the Icons / A Tapestry of Life Ondine 2010 Einojuhani Rautavaara, Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra
RAUTAVAARA, E.: Garden of Spaces / Clarinet Concerto / Cantus arcticus Ondine 2005 Richard Stotlzman, Einojuhani Rautavaara, Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra
RAUTAVAARA, E.: Harp Concerto / Symphony No. 8 Ondine 2001 Marielle Nordmann, Einojuhani Rautavaara, Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra
RAUTAVAARA, E.: Manhattan Trilogy / Symphony No. 3 Ondine 2008 Einojuhani Rautavaara, Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra
RAUTAVAARA, E.: On the Last Frontier / Flute Concerto / Anadyomene Ondine 1999 Patrick Gallois, Einojuhani Rautavaara, Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra
RAUTAVAARA, E.: Violin Concerto / Isle of Bliss / Angels and Visitations Ondine 1997 Elmar Oliveira, Einojuhani Rautavaara, Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra
RAUTAVAARA: Symphony No. 7 / Annunciations Ondine 1996 Einojuhani Rautavaara, Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra
Romantic Trombone Concertos BIS 1988 Christian Lindberg, Bamberger Symphoniker
RUDERS, P.: Saaledes saae Johannes / Gong / Tundra / Symphony No. 1 Chandos 1993 Danish National Radio Symphony Orchestra
SCHMITT, F.: Orchestral Works – Danse d'Abisag / Habeyssée / Rêves / Symphony No. 2 SWR Classic Archive 2007 Rheinland-Pfalz State Philharmonic
SCRIABIN, A.: Symphony No. 2 / Reverie / Le Poeme de l'extase BIS 1992 Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra
SCRIABIN: Piano Concerto / Symphony No. 3, "Le divin poeme" BIS 1990 Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra
SCRIABIN: Symphony No. 1 / Prometheus BIS 1991 Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra
SIBELIUS, J.: Symphony No. 1 / In memoriam Chandos 1992 Danish National Radio Symphony Orchestra
SIBELIUS, J.: Symphony No. 2 / Finlandia Chandos 1992 Danish National Radio Symphony Orchestra
SIBELIUS, J.: Symphonies Nos. 5 and 7 / Valse triste Chandos 1992 Danish National Radio Symphony Orchestra
SIBELIUS, J.: Symphony No. 3 / Scenes with cranes / Tapiola Chandos 1992 Danish National Radio Symphony Orchestra
SIBELIUS, J.: Symphony No. 4 / The Tempest Suite No. 1 Chandos 1991 Danish National Radio Symphony Orchestra
SIBELIUS, J.: Symphony No. 6 / Pohjola's Daughter / En saga Chandos 1991 Danish National Radio Symphony Orchestra
WAGNER, R.: Tristan und Isolde Naxos 2005 Royal Swedish Opera Male Chorus and Orchestra

References edit

  1. ^ a b c Liljeroos, Mats. "Segerstam, Leif". uppslagsverket.fi (in Swedish). Uppslagsverket Finland. Archived from the original on 6 June 2015.
  2. ^ a b Hillila, Ruth-Esther; Hong, Barbara Blanchard (1997). Historical Dictionary of the Music and Musicians of Finland. Greenwood Publishing Group. pp. 368–369.
  3. ^ a b "Leif Segerstam, conductor". ondine.net. Archived from the original on 20 October 2014.
  4. ^ "Emeritus ylikapellimestarin esittely". hel.fi (in Finnish). 15 January 2014. Archived from the original on 1 April 2015.
  5. ^ a b c d "Composer / Conductor Leif Segerstam, A Conversation with Bruce Duffie". kcstudio.com. 1997. Archived from the original on 18 September 2014.
  6. ^ a b Service, Tom. "Leif Segerstam: weird and wonderful symphonic master". theguardian.com. Archived from the original on 5 June 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  7. ^ Video on YouTube
  8. ^ a b c d Dahlström, Fabian. "SEGERSTAM, Leif". blf.fi (in Swedish). Biografiskt lexikon för Finland. Archived from the original on 5 June 2015.
  9. ^ a b c Arvonen, Margit (28 May 2007). "Leif Segerstamin lapsuusmuistot". iltalehti.fi (in Finnish). Archived from the original on 19 October 2014.
  10. ^ "Leif Segerstam – Conductor – Patrick Garvey Management, Classical Music Agent". www.patrickgarvey.com. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
  11. ^ Sirén, Vesa (2 March 2014). "Uskomaton Leif Segerstam täyttää 70 vuotta ja säveltää sinfoniaa nro 270". hs.fi (in Finnish). Archived from the original on 5 June 2015.
  12. ^ a b c "Leif Segerstam Conductor". The D.D. Shostakovich St. Petersburg Academic Philharmonia. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
  13. ^ a b "Leif Segerstam". www.mariinsky.ru. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
  14. ^ "Kapellimestari Leif Segerstam työskentelee viimeistä kertaa oppilaittensa kanssa". yle.fi (in Finnish). 26 April 2013. Archived from the original on 18 January 2015.
  15. ^ "Music Finland / Composers & Repertoire". musicfinland.fi. Archived from the original on 5 June 2015.
  16. ^ a b "Composer Profiles: Leif Segerstam". musicfinland.fi. Archived from the original on 18 January 2015.
  17. ^ Hartikainen, Ville (1 March 2024). "80-vuotias | "Mähän olen melkein kuin musiikin Jeesus", Leif Segerstam sanoo" [80 years old | "I'm almost like the Jesus of music," says Leif Segerstam]. Helsingin Sanomat (in Finnish). Retrieved 2 March 2024.
  18. ^ Albrecht, Klaus (1 January 2001). "Essen: Grüße aus dem Norden—Leif Segerstam leitet die Essener Philharmoniker". Das Orchester – Zeitschrift für Orchesterkultur und Rundfunk-Chorwesen – via ProQuest.
  19. ^ "Radio Swiss Classic – Music database – Musician". Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  20. ^ "Nordic Sounds". NOMUS Nordic Council of Ministers. Secretariat of Nordic Cultural Co-operation – via CATALYST.
  21. ^ a b c White, John David; Christensen, Jean (2001). New Music of the Nordic Countries. Pendragon Press. pp. 213–214.
  22. ^ a b Heiniö, Mikko (2001). "Segerstam, Leif". doi:10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.25324. ISBN 978-1-56159-263-0.
  23. ^ "Leif Segerstam". naxos.com.
  24. ^ Wärnfeldt, Elisabeth. "Völvan: An opera to be". elisabethwarnfeldt.info (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 6 June 2015.
  25. ^ Latva-Kurikka, Marika (9 February 2012). "Leif Segerstamin poika avoimena: "Kasvoin varhain aikuiseksi"". iltalehti.fi (in Finnish). Archived from the original on 14 June 2012.
  26. ^ a b Aho, Esko (2 November 2005). "Mies kuin Brahms tai Zorbas". kaleva.fi (in Finnish). Archived from the original on 18 January 2015.
  27. ^ "Leif Segerstam: avioero!". iltasanomat.fi (in Finnish). 28 May 2009. Archived from the original on 5 June 2015.
  28. ^ "Leif Segerstam". Music Finland Core. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
  29. ^ "Leif Segerstam Biography – InstantEncore". www.instantencore.com. Retrieved 4 October 2020.

External links edit

Cultural offices
Preceded by Principal Conductor, Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra
1975–1982 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Principal Conductor, Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra
1977–1987 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Principal Conductor, Danish National Symphony Orchestra
1988–1995 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Principal Conductor, Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra
1995–2007 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Professor of conducting, Sibelius Academy
1997– 		Succeeded by
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