6 publishers · first seen Wed, 04 Nov 2026 20:11 UTC · updated Wed, 04 Nov 2026 23:26 UTC
Herbert Blomstedt, the renowned Swedish conductor who led the San Francisco Symphony from 1985 to 1995 and held various prestigious positions in orchestras across Scandinavia and Germany over his seven-decade career, passed away at the age of 99. Blomstedt died at his home in Gothenburg, Sweden, as confirmed by his management agency, KünstlerSekretariat am Gasteig. His final performance with the San Francisco Symphony on May 15 was marked by his struggle to complete Gustav Mahler's Ninth Symphony, leading to a temporary halt during the third movement. Despite health concerns, Blomstedt had performances scheduled up until 2027, including a planned appearance with the Vienna Philharmonic in June, just before his 100th birthday.
Blomstedt was known for his dedication to the music and his unique approach to conducting, which he described as an intense communication akin to 'intense sex'. He was a Seventh-day Adventist who did not conduct rehearsals on Friday nights and Saturdays due to the Sabbath but would lead performances on those days, considering himself a preacher of music.
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