Nils Grevillius

The leading Swedish conductor of his time, Nils Grevillius was also the best known, recognized by record collectors world wide as the director on a prized disc by the young Jussi Björling; he continued to work with the Swedish tenor for the duration the artist's life. Grevillius provided the orchestral direction for projects featuring other leading Swedish singers as well. Orchestral music received even greater attention from Grevillius through his nearly four decades with Stockholm's most important orchestras. After studies at the Stockholm Conservatory, Grevillius was engaged as leader of the Royal Opera Orchestra in 1911, remaining in the concertmaster's position until 1914. Wishing to become a conductor, he pursued further studies in England and Germany and was soon awarded with an appointment to the Stockholm Konsert Førening, where he served as an assistant conductor from 1914 to 1920. In 1924, he was made conductor of the Royal Orchestra, remaining with the ensemble until 1953. From 1927 to 1939, he held the title of music director with the Stockholm Royal Opera, after having previously served there as a coach. In 1931, he was honored with the title court musical director with the SRO Aside from his activities in Sweden, Grevillius undertook a select number of engagements outside his native country. He led orchestral concerts in several major European capitals and even led a season of Swedish ballet in Paris under the title Ballet Suédois in 1922. Outside Sweden, Grevillius remains most closely identified with opera, especially with the accompaniment he provided on recordings by his country's best-known singers. In addition to Björling, heroic Set Svanholm and sopranos Birgit Nilsson and Elisabeth Söderström were among those to benefit from his well-judged direction. A disc of arias by Swedish coloratura soprano Margareta Hallin offers another example of the kind of support that made Grevillius a favorite with singers: flexible, yet firm, but never rigid.