A Norwegian composer, conductor and violinist, Johan Svendsen studied in Leipzig. For the last 30 years of his life he concentrated largely on conducting, becoming the leading Scandinavian conductor of his day.
Orchestral Music
Svendsen wrote a number of works for violin and orchestra. Of these the Romance is by far the best known, whether in its original version or in various adaptations that have been made of it, largely to its detriment. Grieg had much praise for Svendsen’s two symphonies, which have retained an honoured place in Norwegian repertoire.