Born: 1933 - Soelvesborg, Sweden

The Swedish baritone, Rolf Leandersson [Leanderson], completed complete medicine studies, passed the medical state examination and specialised in the area of the neck and speaking diseases. Since 1972 he was lecturer in this subject at the Karolinska Institut in Stockholm. Since 1956 he studied in addition singing with Dagmar Gutsafson in Stockholm, and later Lieder interpretation with Erik Werba in Vienna and with Gerald Moore in London.

Rolf Leandersson made his stage debut in 1962 in the historical Baroque theatre of Drottningholm as Guglielmo in Così fan tutte. In the following years he had big successes in this role, as Figaro in Paisiello's Il Barbiere di Siviglia«, as Belcore in Elisir d'amore by Donizetti, in the operas Orlando and Serse by Händel and in Il Mondo della Luna by J. Haydn. In 1965 he made his debut at the Royal Opera Stockholm, again as Guglielmo in Così fan tutte. Since that time he had a great career also at this house, whereby at the same time he cared for the ensemble medically. He made guest appearances with the Stockholm opera in 1967 in Montreal, and in 1969 in Munich. Apart from his successful activity on the stage, a second, just as successful career came off as concert and oratorio soloist. He specialised in performing solo parts in the Passions and Cantatas of J.S. Bach, and mastered in addition a wide Lieder repertoire. In 1976 he had in Göteborg a special success in the vocal work Dagdrivaren by Hilding Rosenberg.

As a pedagogue Rolf Leandersson unfolded a comprehensive training activity at the College of Music and the Opera School in Stockholm; in addition it published medical music-scientific contributions in technical periodicals. He is married with the pianist Helene Broman.

Recordings: Telefunken (complete opera Castor et Pollux by Rameau), Edition Schwann, Conifer; Private recordings from the Festival in Drottningholm.

Source: Ruud Janssen (February 2006); Großes Sängerlexikon (Authors: K. J. Kutsch / Leo Riemens; Expanded 3^rd edition 1999/2000; K. G. Saur Verlag, Munich), English translation by Aryeh Oron (June 2006)
Contributed by Thomas Braatz (June 2006)

Recordings of Bach Cantatas & Other Vocal Works

Conductor

As

Works

Eric Ericson

Bass

BWV 244

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