Ivar Hallström

Ivar Christian Hallström, born Stockholm, 5 June 1826, died in that city on 11 April 1901 was a Swedish composer, particularly of opera.[1] After many years neglect, Hallström’s operas were revived, in Umeå in 1986 with Bergtagna, seen also in York in 1988,[1] and Hertig Magnus at Vadstena in 1988 and 2000, also broadcast on Swedish television.[2]

Ivar Hallström

Life

Although he learnt the piano, Hallström was self-taught as a composer. He studied law in Uppsala and in 1853 was appointed librarian to Prince Oscar which assisted him in advancing his career as a composer. His operas in collaboration with the librettist Frans Hedberg launched his operatic career, where he was particularly able to use Swedish folk tunes effectively.[1] Hallström introduced a flavour of Gallic wit into his light operas, many of them based on French libretti.[3] Fourteen operatic works survive.

Compositions
  • Hertig Magnus och sjöjungfrun (Duke Magnus and the mermaid) – romantic operetta
  • Mjölnarvargen (after Le diable au moulin by Eugène Cormon and Michel Carré) - operetta
  • Den bergtagna (The bride of the mountain king) – romantic opera
  • Vikingarne (The Vikings) – romantic opera
  • Neaga - opera
  • Per Svinaherde (Peter the swineherd) – fairy play
  • Ett äfventyr i Skottland (An Adventure in Scotland) - ballet in two acts
  • En dröm (A dream) - ballet in one act

References
  1. Wiklund A. Ivar Christian Hallström. In: The New Grove Dictionary of Opera. Macmillan, London and New York, 1997.
  2. List of productions at Vadstena
  3. Horton J. Scandinavian Music: A Short History. Faber, London, 1963.


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