Arnold Östman

Swedish Conductor and Opera Specialist

Arnold Östman is a distinguished Swedish conductor known for his expertise in the field of historically informed performance. Born on February 19, 1939, in Stockholm, he has made significant contributions to the revival of Baroque and Classical operas, often conducting from the harpsichord or fortepiano. Östman served as the artistic director of the Drottningholm Court Theatre from 1979 to 1992, where he gained international acclaim for his authentic performances of Mozart operas using period instruments. His work at Drottningholm played a crucial role in popularizing historically informed performances and set standards for such practices worldwide.