Kurt Atterberg

Kurt Atterberg was a prominent Swedish composer and conductor, born on December 12, 1887, in Gothenburg, Sweden, and passed away on February 15, 1974. His musical career spanned the first half of the 20th century, where he became known for his romantic and nationalistic style, at a time when the musical world was undergoing significant changes with the advent of modernism and atonality.

Atterberg's compositional output is marked by his lush orchestral works, which include nine symphonies, concertos, operas, and chamber music. His Symphony No. 6 won him significant recognition when it earned the Columbia Graphophone Company's prize for a Swedish symphony in 1928. In his lifetime, Atterberg served as a conductor at the Royal Swedish Opera and also worked as a music critic. Although less well-known than some of his contemporaries, Atterberg's music is characterized by its lyrical melodies, rich harmonies, and evocative orchestrations that paint the landscapes of his Nordic homeland. His recent releases testify to a resurgence of interest in his work and highlight his contributions to the rich tapestry of classical music.

Genres

Early Modern Classical

Swedish Classical

Related Artists

Jean Sibelius

Carl Nielsen

Hugo Alfvén

Leif Segerstam

Johannes Brahms

Edvard Grieg

Wilhelm Stenhammar

Einojuhani Rautavaara

Richard Strauss

Ottorino Respighi

Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov

Lars-Erik Larsson

Latest Release

The Essential Henning Kraggerud

Henning Kraggerud•

Jean Sibelius•

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart•

Edvard Grieg•

Kurt Atterberg•

Eugène Ysaÿe•

Christian Sinding•

Johan Halvorsen•

Louis Spohr•

Ole Bull•

Johan Svendsen

Album - 29 Tracks - Released June 6, 2025