Ruth Lagesen (August 10, 1914 – April 7, 2005) was a Norwegian pianist and conductor.[1]

Biography

Lagesen was born in Bagn in the Valdres district.[2] She started studying in 1933 with Mary Barratt Due,[1][2] Nils Larsen,[1][2] and Erling Westher[2] in Oslo, and she debuted as a pianist[3] at the University of Oslo's Aula Hall in 1935[1][2] with the Oslo Philharmonic. After further study in Brussels and London, in 1938 she settled in Larvik, working for the Treschow family at Fritzøehus.[2] After the Second World War, she established the town's Cecilia Society in 1945 and served as the head of NRK's junior orchestra from 1947 to 1951.[1][3] Lagesen was often featured by NRK as a soloist with the Norwegian Radio Orchestra and she also appeared on TV abroad. She distinguished herself in 1949 as Norway's first female orchestra conductor.[4][5] She was known for conducting a number of large-scale works, including Handel's Messiah[3] and Bach's passions. In 1977 she conducted Bach's Christmas Oratorio from Kongsberg Church in three programs on NRK Television.

After studying in Paris with Nadia Boulanger[1][2][3] and Eugène Bigot[2][6] from 1955 to 1957, with classmates Per Nørgård and Mikis Theodorakis,[2] she took a conducting exam and became a music teacher at Eik Normal School.[2] She established the Friends of Music Society in Tønsberg and Larvik, as well as the Larvik Boys' Choir and Music Society. She conducted the royal-sponsored Robert Riefling seminar in 1968 and 1969.[2] As a conductor, she led the Oslo Philharmonic, Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra, Norwegian Radio Orchestra, and Trondheim Chamber Orchestra. Lagesen was on the board of the Norwegian National Academy of Opera.[7] As late as 1993, she lectured at the Norwegian Academy of Music on Edvard Grieg and his work for piano students.

Lagesen died at age 90 in Larvik.[2][8]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Ruth Lagesen". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Retrieved February 10, 2019.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Gupta, Rolf (April 27, 2005). "Ruth Lagesen Nekrolog". Aftenposten. Retrieved February 10, 2019.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Selvik, Espen (October 2, 2018). "Endelig blir kvinnelige dirigenter tatt på alvor". Dagbladet. Retrieved February 10, 2019.
  4. ↑ "Spillerom hovedsending". NRK Radio. NRK. June 10, 2015. Retrieved February 10, 2019. Hør historien om den glemte pioneren Ruth Lagesen. Norges første kvinnelige orkesterdirigent.
  5. ↑ Sæle, Anita Apelthun (January 29, 2009). "Norges første kvinnelige operadirigent". Norge idag. Retrieved February 10, 2019.
  6. ↑ "Beste kvinnelige dirigent jeg har hatt". Verdens Gang. April 15, 1957.
  7. ↑ "Ruth Lagesen". Forvaltningsdatabasen. Norsk senter for forskningsdata. Retrieved February 10, 2019.
  8. ↑ Hurum, Maud (April 26, 2005). "Ruth Lagesen (obituary)". Aftenposten.
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