Ivar Hallström

Ivar Christian Hallström (5 June 1826 – 11 April 1901) was a Swedish composer, particularly of opera.

Life Hallström was born and died in Stockholm. Although he learnt the piano, he was self-taught as a composer. He studied law in Uppsala and in 1853 was appointed librarian to Prince Oscar which assisted him in advancing his career as a composer. His operas in collaboration with the librettist Frans Hedberg launched his operatic career, where he was particularly able to use Swedish folk tunes effectively. Fourteen operatic works survive.

He was one of the founding members of Sällskapet Idun, a men's association founded in Stockholm in 1862.

After many years neglect, Hallström’s operas were revived, in Umeå in 1986 with Bergtagna, seen also at the York Early Music Festival in 1988, and Liten Karin in 1997, also at Vadstena, with Malena Ernman as Princess Cecilia.

Compositions Hertig Magnus och sjöjungfrun (Duke Magnus and the mermaid) – romantic operetta Mjölnarvargen (after Le diable au moulin by Eugène Cormon and Michel Carré) - operetta Den bergtagna (The bride of the mountain king) – romantic opera Vikingarne (The Vikings) – romantic opera Neaga - opera Per Svinaherde (Peter the swineherd) – fairy play Ett äfventyr i Skottland (An Adventure in Scotland) - ballet in two acts En dröm (A dream) - ballet in one act