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. After many years neglect, Hallström’s operas were revived, in Umeå in 1986 with Bergtagna, seen also in York in 1988, and Hertig Magnus at Vadstena in 1988 and 2000, also broadcast on Swedish television.

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. Hallström introduced a flavour of Gallic wit into his light operas, many of them based on French libretti. 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