# Magnus Lindberg (1958-)

> Magnus Lindberg, composer – 20 recordings on Ondine. Magnus Lindberg is one of the internationally best known Finnish composers of today. He is predominantly…

Source: https://ondine.eyelabel.com/composers/lindberg-magnus

- **Role:** Composer
- **Dates:** 1958-
- **Photo:** © Sara Vuorjoki/FIMIC

## Biography

Magnus Lindberg is one of the internationally best known Finnish composers of today. He is predominantly a composer of instrumental music, above all orchestral music. His musical language is usually highly complex yet highly full of vim and verve. Lindberg is both rationalist and pragmatist, a hands-on musician - a pianist - who participated in many premieres in the early stages of his career and founded the experimental Toimii Ensemble.

Lindberg studied composition at the Sibelius Academy with Einojuhani Rautavaara and Paavo Heininen (graduated 1981). The latter encouraged his pupils to look beyond the prevailing Finnish conservative and nationalist aesthetics, and to explore the works of the European avant-garde. This led around 1980 to the founding of the informal grouping known as the 'Ears Open Society' including Lindberg and his contemporaries Hämeeniemi, Kaipainen, Saariaho and Salonen, which aimed to encourage a greater awareness of mainstream modernism. Lindberg made a decisive move in 1981, travelling to Paris for studies with Gérard Grisey, the developer of spectral music, and Vinko Globokar, whose interests lay in the social functions of performing and in improvisation in contemporary music. The IRCAM and the impressive figure of Pierre Boulez contributed significantly to Lindberg's mental landscape. During this time he also attended Donatoni's classes in Siena, and made contact with Ferneyhough, Lachenmann and Höller. and later in composition masterclasses with Franco Donatoni, Helmut Lachenmann and Brian Ferneyhough.

Among the many prizes he and his music have won are the UNESCO Rostrum in 1982 for ...de Tartuffe, je crois and in 1986 for KRAFT, the Prix Italia 1986, the Nordic Music Prize 1988 for KRAFT, the Royal Philharmonic Society Prize for large-scale composition in 1992 and the Wihuri Sibelius Prize 2003.

Serving as Composer-in-Residence with the New York Philharmonic from 2009-2011, Magnus Lindberg is also much in demand as a teacher of composition masterclasses.

## Works

- Tendenza (1982)
- Marea (1990)
- Kinetics (1989)
- Joy (1990)
- Feria (1997)
- Coyote Blues (1993)
- Corrente II (1992)
- Corrente (1992)
- Clarinet Quintet (1992)
- Arena 2 (1996)
- Arena (1995)
- Mano a mano (2004)
- Clarinet Concerto (2001-02)
- Chorale (2001-02)
- Piano Concerto (1994)
- Sculpture (2005)
- KRAFT (1985)
- Seht die Sonne (2007)
- Campana in aria (1998), for horn and orchestra
- GRAFFITI (2009), for chorus and orchestra
- Steamboat Bill Jr. (1990), for clarinet and cello
- Gran Duo (1999-2000), for woodwind and brass
- Concerto for Orchestra (2003)
- Trio for clarinet, cello and piano (2008)
- Santa Fe Project
- Partia
- Dos Coyotes
- Violin Concerto (2006)*
- Jubilees (2000/2002)**
- Souvenir (2010)**
- Al largo
- Era
- Cello Concerto No. 2

## Discography on Ondine (20)

- [Magnus Lindberg: Viola Concerto · Absence · Serenades](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-1436-2.md): Lawrence Power, viola · Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra · Nicholas Collon (ODE 1436-2, 2024)
- [Magnus Lindberg: Aura · Marea · Related Rocks](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-1384-2.md): Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra · Hannu Lintu, conductor · Joonas Ahonen, piano & keyboard · Jerry Piipponen, percussions (ODE 1384-2, 2021)
- [Magnus Lindberg: Accused, Three Interrogations for Soprano and Orchestra · Two Episodes for Orchestra](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-1345-2.md): Anu Komsi, soprano · Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra · Hannu Lintu, conductor (ODE 1345-2, 2020)
- [Magnus Lindberg: Tempus fugit · Violin Concerto No. 2](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-1308-5.md): Frank Peter Zimmermann, violin · Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra · Hannu Lintu, conductor (ODE 1308-5, 2018)
- [Finland 100: A Century of Finnish Classics · 5 CD collection celebrating 100 years of Finland's independence · Orchestral Works I & II · Concertos · Vocal Works · Chamber Music](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-1300-2q.md): Various Finnish artist, orchestras and conductors (ODE 1300-2Q, 2016)
- [Magnus Lindberg: Al largo · Cello Concerto No. 2 · Era](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-1281-5.md): Anssi Karttunen, cello · Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra · Hannu Lintu, conductor (ODE 1281-5, 2016)
- [Magnus Lindberg: Violin Concerto · Jubilees · Souvenir](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-1175-2.md): Pekka Kuusisto, violin & director* · Tapiola Sinfonietta · Magnus Lindberg, conductor** (ODE 1175-2, 2013)
- [Magnus Lindberg: Chamber Works](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-1199-2.md): Kari Kriikku · Anssi Karttunen · Magnus Lindberg (ODE 1199-2, 2012)
- [Magnus Lindberg: Orchestral Music](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-1110-2q.md): Jukka-Pekka Saraste (ODE 1110-2Q, 2011)
- [Magnus Lindberg: GRAFFITI · Seht die Sonne](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-1157-2.md): Helsinki Chamber Choir · Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra · Sakari Oramo, conductor (ODE 1157-2, 2010)
- [Magnus Lindberg: Sculpture · Campana in aria · Concerto for orchestra](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-1124-2.md): Esa Tapani, horn · Finnish RSO · Sakari Oramo, conductor (ODE 1124-2, 2008)
- [A Due: Duo works for clarinet and cello](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-1102-2.md): Kari Kriikku, clarinet and bass clarinet · Anssi Karttunen, cello (ODE 1102-2, 2007)
- [Timo Korhonen: Mano a mano](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-1091-2.md): Lindberg · Takemitsu · Henze · Timo Korhonen, guitar (ODE 1091-2, 2007)
- [Magnus Lindberg: Clarinet Concerto · Gran Duo · Chorale](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-1038-2.md): Kari Kriikku, clarinet · Finnish RSO · Sakari Oramo, conductor (ODE 1038-2, 2005)
- [Magnus Lindberg: Piano Concerto · KRAFT](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-1017-2.md): Magnus Lindberg, piano · Toimii Ensemble · Finnish RSO · Esa-Pekka Salonen, conductor (ODE 1017-2, 2004)
- [A Century of Finnish Chamber Music: Live from the Kuhmo Festival](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-984-2s.md): Various Artists (ODE 984-2S, 2002)
- [Magnus Lindberg: Feria · Corrente II · Arena](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-911-2.md): Finnish RSO · Jukka-Pekka Saraste, conductor (ODE 911-2, 1998)
- [Magnus Lindberg: Arena 2 · Coyote Blues · Tendenza · Corrente](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-882-2.md): Avanti! Chamber Orchestra · Sakari Oramo, conductor (ODE 882-2, 1996)
- [Society of Finnish Composer's 50th Anniversary, Vol. 2 · Veli-Matti Puumala · Olli Kortekangas · Jukka Koskinen · Tapio Tuomela · Hannu Pohjannoro · Olli Koskelin · Magnus Lindberg: Tutta via · Konzertstück · Ululation · L'echelle de l'evasion · Eilisen linnut (The Birds of Yesterday) · … Kuin planeetta hiljaa hengittava (… Like a Planet Silently Breathing) · Away](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-866-2.md): Avanti! Chamber Orchestra · Leif Segerstam (ODE 866-2, 1995)
- [Magnus Lindberg: Kinetics · Marea · Joy](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-784-2.md): Avanti! Chamber Orchestra · Bavarian RSO · Jukka-Pekka Saraste, conductor (ODE 784-2, 1992)

## Links

- [Magnus Lindberg, piano](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/artists/lindberg-magnus)
- [Toimii Ensemble](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/artists/toimii-ensemble)
- [Boosey & Hawkes](http://www.boosey.com/pages/cr/composer/composer_main.asp?composerid=2974&langid=1&ttype=SNAPSHOT&ttitle=Snapshot)
- [Chester Novello](http://www.chesternovello.com/Default.aspx?TabId=2431&State_2905=2&composerId_2905=925)
- [Finnish Music Information Centre](http://www.fimic.fi/fimic/lindberg+magnus)
- [Interview with Magnus Lindberg at eMusic.com (24 February 2010)](http://17dots.com/2010/02/24/emusic-interview-magnus-lindberg/)