We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of the esteemed Finnish musician, conductor, and prolific composer Mastro Leif Segerstam on October 9, 2024, at the age of 80. Leif Segerstam was a cherished roster member of our Crescendi Artists family, and his loss will be felt profoundly within the world of classical music and beyond.
Leif Segerstam’s extraordinary career spanned more than six decades. Known for his boundless energy, extravagance, warmth, and remarkable creativity, Segerstam was one of the most versatile and interesting musical talents in the Nordic countries. Throughout his musical career, he has written more than 371 symphonies, as well as string quartets, violin and piano concerti, and chamber and vocal music.
Maestro Segerstam completed his studies in violin, piano, composition, and conducting at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, followed by post-graduate studies at the Juilliard School of Music. He served as a conductor in opera houses across Helsinki, Stockholm, and West Berlin, and made celebrated guest appearances at the Met, La Scala, Covent Garden, Teatro Colon Buenos Aires, the opera houses of Cologne, Hamburg, Munich, and Geneva, and the Salzburg and Savonlinna Festivals among others.
Segerstam held the position of Chief Conductor with the Austrian Radio Symphony Orchestra (1975-82), the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra (1977-87), the Rheinland-Pfalz Staatsphilharmonie (1983-89), the Danish National Radio Symphony Orchestra (1988-1995), and the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra (1995-2007). He was also chief conductor of the Royal Swedish Opera (1995-2000) and an Acting Professor of Conducting at the Sibelius Academy for 16 years (1997-2013).
The numerous recordings by Leif Segerstam are recognized by critics and public alike as outstanding among modern interpretations: Mahler’s, Nielsen’s, and Sibelius’ works as well as contemporary music with the Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Skrjabin’s and Schnittke’s works with the Stockholm Philharmonic and Brahms’ music with the Rheinland-Pfalz Staatsphilharmonie.
In November 1998 the Nordic Music Committee NOMUS awarded Segerstam the 1999 Nordic Council Music Prize for his work ”as a tireless champion of Scandinavian music”. In 2004 Leif Segerstam was awarded the annual State Prize for Music in Finland.
After the news of his passing, BBC Radio 3 featured a tribute to Leif Segerstam in their In Tune program on October 9, 2024. You can listen to it here (starting from 1:25:48).
Our thoughts are with Leif Segerstam’s family and friends. His contributions to music are immeasurable, and his wild and free spirit will continue to resonate through the works he conducted and composed.
Rest in peace, dear Leif. Your music lives on.
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