Per Gunnar Fredrik de Frumerie (20 July 1908,
Nacka,
Stockholm County — 9 September 1987,
Täby,
Stockholm County) was a Swedish
composer and
pianist. He was the son of architect
Gustaf de Frumerie and Maria Helleday.
After studying piano in Stockholm and Vienna, he studied under
Alfred Cortot in Paris. He then studied at the
Royal College of Music, Stockholm 1923–1928. He taught the piano at the same college from 1945 to 1974.
His compositions covered a wide area, from grand opera to piano miniatures, but he is best remembered for his piano works. His works possess a Brahmsian complexity mixed with an impressionistic elegance. One can relate his music to composers like
Lars-Erik Larsson or
Wilhelm Peterson-Berger. His
Pastoral Suite for flute and piano or string orchestra and harp, is a composition that can stand well with that of any other Scandinavian composers of the 19th century.
Although not noted for his theatre work, he did write an opera,
Singoalla (1940). He wrote many songs, often to words by
Pär Lagerkvist. The cello concerto (1984) has an interesting history. It was adapted from his second cello sonata. He then adapted it into a trombone concerto, and was his last completed work. It was specifically written for the Swedish trombone virtuoso
Christian Lindberg.
His pupils included
Laci Boldemann.
The Swedish mezzo-soprano
Anne Sofie von Otter is related to Frumerie, as she is descended from the Frumerie family. They were both members of the
Royal Swedish Academy......
Read More