Editing Herbert Blomstedt (section)

==Biography==
Herbert Blomstedt was born in [[Springfield, Massachusetts|Springfield]], Massachusetts, the son of Adolf Blomstedt (1898–1981) and his wife Alida Armintha Thorson (1899–1957).<ref name=nyt2022>{{cite news | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/02/arts/music/ny-philharmonic-herbert-blomstedt.html | access-date = 4 March 2022 | date = 2 March 2022 | title = A Conductor Brings Nearly a Century of Experience to Beethoven | work = [[The New York Times]] | first = David | last = Allen }}</ref> Two years after his birth, his Swedish parents moved the family back to their country of origin. He studied at the [[Stockholm Royal College of Music]] and the [[University of Uppsala]], followed by studies of contemporary music at the [[Darmstädter Ferienkurse]] in 1949, Baroque music with [[Paul Sacher]] at the [[Schola Cantorum Basiliensis]], and further conducting studies with [[Igor Markevitch]], [[Jean Paul Morel|Jean Morel]] at the [[Juilliard School]], and [[Leonard Bernstein]] at [[Tanglewood]]'s [[Berkshire Music Center]]. Blomstedt also lived in Finland during his youth.

He won the [[Koussevitzky Conducting Prize]] in 1953 and the Salzburg Conducting Competition in 1955.<ref>{{cite web|last=Stevenson |first=Joseph |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/herbert-blomstedt-q13670/biography |title=Herbert Blomstedt – Music Biography, Credits and Discography |publisher=AllMusic |date=11 July 1927 |access-date=4 June 2013}}</ref>

Blomstedt is most noted for his performances of German and Austrian composers, such as [[Ludwig van Beethoven|Beethoven]], [[Felix Mendelssohn]], [[Johannes Brahms]], [[Franz Schubert]], [[Anton Bruckner]], [[Richard Strauss]] and [[Paul Hindemith]], and also as a champion of Scandinavian composers, such as [[Edvard Grieg]], [[Franz Berwald]], [[Jean Sibelius]] and [[Carl Nielsen]].

A devout [[Seventh-day Adventist Church|Seventh-day Adventist]], Blomstedt does not rehearse on Friday nights or Saturdays, the [[Sabbath in Seventh-day Adventism]]. He does, however, conduct concerts, since he considers actual performances to be an expression of his religious devotion rather than secular work.<ref>{{cite news | url = https://www.nytimes.com/1986/03/09/arts/san-francisco-s-new-conductor-a-man-of-firm-beliefs.html | access-date = 10 July 2017 | date = 9 March 1986 | title = San Francisco's New Conductor – A Man of Firm Beliefs | work = [[The New York Times]] | first = Mark | last = Steinbrink }}</ref>

He has been Music Director or Principal Conductor of the [[Norrköping Symphony Orchestra]] (1954–1962), [[Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra]] (1962–1968), [[Danish National Symphony Orchestra|Danish Radio Symphony]] (1967–1977) and [[Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra|Swedish Radio Symphony]] (1977–1982). From 1975 to 1985, he served as chief conductor of the [[Staatskapelle Dresden]] as well as the [[Saxon State Opera]], in the process making many well-regarded recordings, including works of Richard Strauss and the complete Beethoven and Schubert symphonies, and leading the orchestra on international tours.

Blomstedt was music director of the [[San Francisco Symphony]] from 1985 to 1995.<ref name=nyt2022/> He led the orchestra on regular tours of Europe and Asia, and made numerous prize-winning recordings for [[London Records|London/Decca]], winning two [[Grammy Awards]], a [[Gramophone Awards|Gramophone Award]] and a [[Grand Prix du Disque]], as well as awards from Belgium, Germany, and Japan. After leaving San Francisco full-time, Blomstedt held principal conductorships with the [[North German Radio Symphony]] (1996–1998) and [[Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra]] (1998–2005).

Blomstedt holds the title of conductor laureate with the San Francisco Symphony and is honorary conductor of the [[Bamberg Symphony]], [[Danish National Symphony Orchestra]], [[NHK Symphony]], Swedish Radio Symphony, Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra and [[Staatskapelle Dresden]]. At age 97, he continues to conduct and in February 2025 he completed a series of concerts with the San Francisco Symphony.