Larsson, Lars-Erik (1908–1986)

Swedish composer, conductor, and critic. His works vary between traditional and more modern styles. For instance, the ten Two-Part Piano Pieces (1932) introduced the twelve-tone system to Swedish music, while his Sinfonietta, composed in the same year, is contrapuntal and neo-baroque in style. However, despite the dichotomy in his work, the characteristic that threads Larsson's music together is his gift of lyricism.

He studied at the Royal Academy of Music in Stockholm, and later in Leipzig, Germany, and Vienna, Austria, where he was a pupil of Alban Berg. He was a conductor for Swedish radio 1937–54; professor of composition at Stockholm Conservatory 1947–59; and director of music at Uppsala University 1961–66.

Works Stage opera The Princess of Cyprus (1937); incidental music to Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale.

Orchestral three symphonies (1927–45), two concert overtures, lyric suite for orchestra; sinfonietta for strings (1932), divertimento for chamber orchestra; saxophone concerto.