Bernhard Henrik Crusell

Bernhard Henrik Crusell (1775-1838) was a Swedish-Finnish clarinetist, composer and translator, the most significant and internationally best-known Finnish-born Classical composer and indeed, the outstanding Finnish composer before Sibelius. Although a foreigner, he rose to a prominent position in the Swedish music world. Born in Uusikaupunki (Swedish name Nystad), Finland, into an impoverished family of bookbinders, he lived in Stockholm from 1791 onwards and performed his life’s work in Sweden.