Boldemann, Laci

Boldemann, Laci, Finnish-born Swedish composer; b. Helsinki, April 24, 1921; d. Munich, Aug. 18, 1969. He studied piano and conducting at the Royal Academy of Music in London. At the outbreak of World War II in 1939, he went to Sweden and pursued piano training with Gunnar de Frumerie. After being compelled to return to Germany for army service, he saw action in the campaigns in the Soviet Union, Poland, and Italy before being captured by the Allies. He was a prisoner-of-war in the U.S. for 2 years; upon his release at the end of the War, he returned to Sweden to pursue his career as a composer. He was also active as a teacher and from 1963 to 1969 was secretary and treasurer of the Swedish Composers’ Soc. Boldemann’s output was the work of a solid craftsman who placed great store in lyrical invention.

Works

DRAMATIC: Svart ar viti, sa kejsaren (Black Is White, Said the Emperor), fairy tale opera (1964; Stockholm, Jan. 1, 1965); Dårskapens timme (Hour of Madness), opera-musical (Malmö, March 22, 1968); Och så drommer han om Per Jonathan (And He Dreams of Per Jonathan), operatic scene (Stockholm, Nov. 29, 1969). orch.:La Danza, overture (1949–50); Sinfonietta for Strings (1954); Fantasia Concertante for Cello and Orch. (1954); Piano Concerto (1956); Violin Concerto (1959); Sym. (1963; Munich, Jan. 13, 1964); Trumpet Concerto (1968; Malmö, Feb. 11, 1969); Med bleck och med trä, little wind overture (1969). chamber: Violin Sonata (1950); 6 Small Pieces without Pedal for Piano (1950); String Quartet (1950–57); Canto elegiaco for Cello and Piano (1962). vocal:Lieder der Vergänglichkeit, cantata for Baritone and Strings (1951); 4 Epitaphs for Soprano and Strings (1952); Notturno for Soprano and Orch. (1958); John Bauer, oratorio (1967); songs.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire