Jalas (real name, Blomstedt), Jussi

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Jalas (real name, Blomstedt), Jussi

Jalas (real name, Blomstedt), Jussi, Finnish conductor; b. Jyväskylä, June 23, 1908. He studied at the Helsinki Cons, and with Ilmari Krohn at the Univ. of Helsinki, and later in Paris with Rhené-Baton and Monteux. He was active as a theater conductor in Helsinki (1930–45), and subsequently conducted at the Finnish National Opera there, serving as its music director until 1973. He also made guest conducting appearances throughout Europe, the U.S., and Japan. Jalas was highly regarded as an interpreter of the music of Sibelius, his father-in-law, and also excelled in performances of 20th-century works, ranging from Puccini to Shostakovich.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire