|
|
Ekström, Lars (b. March 23, 1956,
Kalmar). Swedish composer of mostly orchestral and chamber works that have been
successfully performed across Europe; he is also active as a rock musician.
Mr. Ekström began
studying piano and music theory in Copenhagen in 1975 and came later to the
Royal University College of Music in Stockholm, where he studied composition
with Sven-David Sandström, Daniel Börtz and Pär Lindgren. He also studied at
the Accademia Chigiana in Siena, the Accademia di Santa Cecilia in Rome with
Franco Donatoni and at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de
Paris.
Among the many awards
that he has received is the Christ Johnson Prize from the Royal Academy of
Music (1996, for Genom skärvan av en
prisma), an hour-long work for small orchestra inspired by the paintings of
August Strindberg.
Many soloists have
performed his works, including pianists Stefan Bojsten, Peter Jablonski, Mårten
Landström, Bengt-Åke Lundin, Bátrice Rauch, and Niklas Sivelöv, oboist Helén
Jahren, percussionist Marcus Leoson, trombonists Christian Lindberg and Ivo
Nilsson, and cellists Mats Olofsson, Kajsa William Olsson and Torleif Thedeén.
In addition,
conductors such as B. Tommy Andersson, Fabrice Bollon, Allan Gilbert, Rolf
Gupta, Jan Latham-Koenig, Lu Jia, Susanna Mälkki, Dominique My, Jorma Panula,
and Leif Segerstam have led performances of his works. Also, ensembles such as
the Arditti Quartet and Ensemble Modern and various orchestras in Luxembourg
and Sweden have performed his works.
Since 1992, Mr.
Ekström has taught composition and instrumentation at the Royal University
College of Music in Stockholm and since 1998, he has also been the rector of
the Edsberg Music Institute.
MIC (the Swedish Music
Information Centre) publishes his works.
CONTACT INFORMATION
E-mail address: lars.ekstrom@kmh.se
SELECT LIST OF WORKS
STAGE: Palatset (incidental music), 1989; Artaud: bokstavsguden (2 act opera, libretto by the composer, after Antonin
Artaud), 1991-92; Pulcinella
(incidental music), 1992
ORCHESTRAL: L’ombra
come buio (concerto), flute, small orchestra, 1982, revised 1992; Fragile Chain (concerto), oboe, small
orchestra, 1983; FluxAska, small
orchestra, 1985; Pravda Love,
percussion, string orchestra, 1986; Do it!
(concerto), trombone, orchestra, 1987; Järnnatten,
small orchestra, 1987; Bogilja…,
string orchestra, 1989; Un fond sombre,
string orchestra, 1992; Genom skärvan av
en prisma (after paintings by August Strindberg), small orchestra, 1994 (a
suite was arranged, 1999); Världen genom
världar, 1995; Word, Crystal Circles and the World, string
orchestra, 1996; Fantasy over a Bounded
String, cello, orchestra, 1997; Rondo
– The Dream Age, piano,
orchestra, 1998; Fem bilder från Hallsta
pappersbruk, flute, cello, piano, string orchestra, 2000; Konsert, violin, orchestra, 2002
CHAMBER MUSIC: Narrens spel, glockenspiel, 1986; Year of Stone, marimba, 1987; Den accelererande isbiten, oboe, 1988; Den enda världen, cello, 1988; Chicanens clou…, guitar, 1989; L’uccello
esca (String Quartet No. 2), 1989; There are people who…, flute, 1989; The Wall, clarinet, 1989; Vargtimmen,
clarinet, saxophone, violin, piano, 1990; Fjättrad,
6 percussion, 1991; Cry My Dreams,
alto saxophone, piano, 1993; Beat My Ora
Dora, flute, violin, cello, piano, 1994; Spröda schakt, percussion, 1995; Den fallande klockan, cello, 1996; Fragile Fragments, oboe, piano, 1996; Garden of Ice, flute, clarinet, violin, viola, cello, piano,
percussion, 1996; Mandala,
vibraphone, 1996; Vision and Ashes,
theorbo, 1996; Gimel, 2 celli, 1997; The Wind and the Bell, tuba, piano,
1997; Cristalli temporanei,
transverse flute, viola da gamba, theorbo, 1999; Dawn, soprano saxophone, 1999; Ripassare,
trombone, piano, 2000
CHORAL: Den sovande i dalen, 18 mixed voices,
1984; Ocean of Time, soprano,
countertenor, bass-baritone, mixed chorus, trombone, violin, orchestra, 2001
VOCAL: Un coup de dès jamais n’abolira le hasard, bass-baritone, 2
orchestras, live electronics, 1985-86
PIANO: Och jorden var som en spegel som långsamt
frös till is, 1988; Chi tempo aspetta,
1999
DISCOGRAPHY
Beat My Ora Dora. (CAP: 21587)
Järnnatten. (PSCD: 57)
Cry My Dreams. (PSCD: 81)
Garden of Ice; Rondo – The Dream Age; Spröda schakt;
Genom skärvan av en prisma (suite).
(PSCD: 122)
Fragile Chain; Den accelererande isbiten. (PSCD: 128)
(Last updated on June 17, 2002)
