Herbert Blomstedt: a timeline
Not many conductors have enjoyed a career as extensive as Herbert Blomstedt’s. He was 18 when the Philharmonia was founded, and 23 when the Royal Festival Hall was opened.
Before Herbert Blomstedt joins us again at the Royal Festival Hall on 26 May, we look back at a career like no other.
1927
Born on 11 July in Massachusetts, USA, to Swedish parents
1929
The family moves to Sweden
1933
Starts learning the piano
1937
Starts learning the violin
1945
Philharmonia Orchestra founded – our first concert takes place on 27 October
1945 – 1955
Studies in Stockholm, Uppsala and Salzburg; also spends time at The Juilliard School in New York, and learning from Leonard Bernstein at Tanglewood
1951
The Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall opens as part of the Festival of Britain
1954
Makes conducting debut with Stockholm Philharmonic; appointed to his first Principal Conductor post with Norrköping Symphony Orchestra
1962 – 1968
Principal Conductor of Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra
1967 – 1977
Principal Conductor of Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra
1975 – 1985
Principal Conductor of Staatskapelle Dresden
1977 – 1982
Principal Conductor of Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra
1985
Santtu-Matias Rouvali, the Philharmonia’s current Principal Conductor, born in Lahti, Finland
1985 – 1995
Music Director of San Francisco Symphony Orchestra
1996 – 1998
Principal Conductor of NDR Symphony Orchestra
1997
Diego Incertis Sánchez, our Joint Principal Horn, currently the youngest member of the Philharmonia, born in Valladolid, Spain
1998 – 2005
Music Director of the Gewandhausorchester Leipzig
2006
Conducts the Philharmonia for the first time, in a performance of Bruckner’s Symphony No. 7 at the Usher Hall, Edinburgh
2012
Awarded the Seraphim Medal, one of Sweden’s highest honours, to add to his honours from Germany, Austria and the USA
2016 – 2019
Conducts the Philharmonia in London, Madrid, Canterbury, Basingstoke and Bath
2021
Santtu-Matias Rouvali appointed Principal Conductor of the Philharmonia
2022
Welcome to this week’s concert!
Herbert Blomstedt conducts the Philharmonia on Thursday 26 May at 7.30pm in Bruckner’s Seventh Symphony and is joined by Maria João Pires for Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 23.