Käbi Laretei

Photo: Unknown photographer — Public domainSource

Käbi Laretei

pianist · composer · writer · film actor · actor

Born
July 14, 1922 · Tartu
Died
October 31, 2014 · Stockholm
Age
92 years
Nationality
Estonia

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Käbi Laretei, 92, Estonian concert pianist.

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Full Biography

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Käbi Alma Laretei (14 July 1922 – 31 October 2014) was an Estonian-Swedish concert pianist.

Her father Heinrich Laretei was a diplomat in the service of the Republic of Estonia as ambassador to Sweden; when the Soviet Union occupied Estonia in 1940, the family did not return to Estonia. Her piano teacher was Maria-Luisa Strub-Moresco, who had an indirect influence on the artistic choices of Laretei's later husband, Ingmar Bergman. Laretei had a long and distinguished career as a pianist, and in the 1960s she played to packed halls in the United Kingdom, Sweden, West Germany, and the United States, including Carnegie Hall.

From 1950 to 1959, Laretei was married to Gunnar Staern, with whom she had a daughter, Linda (born 1955). Laretei is also known for her marriage to and professional collaborations with film director Ingmar Bergman; Laretei was his fourth wife. They met in the late 1950s, and were married in 1959. She introduced Bergman to a variety of music, some of which he would use in film scores. They divorced in 1969, though the marriage was effectively over by 1966. His 1961 film Through a Glass Darkly is dedicated to Laretei. They had a son, Daniel Bergman (born 1962), who is also a film director. Laretei worked with Igor Stravinsky and Paul Hindemith.

She continued to play in concert and give musical consultations on the set of some of her former husband's films and even appears playing the piano in a scene of Fanny and Alexander. She recorded piano passages that appear diegetically in Bergman's films, such as The Silence, Autumn Sonata and The Magic Flute. She took an early interest in the TV medium, hosted many programmes on literature and music on Swedish TV and, starting with En bit jord (1976; "A lump of earth"), published a number of books on life and music, the last being Såsom i en översättning (2004; "As in a translation", the title being a paraphrase on "Through a Glass Darkly" (Såsom i en spegel)). Moreover, she has been the subject of numerous television and film documentaries.

She was awarded Estonia's Order of the National Coat of Arms, 3rd Class in 1998.

She died on 31 October 2014 at the age of 92.

Filmography

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Sources

Trivia & Knowledge· 16 questions

Questions drawn from Käbi Laretei's archived record and the sources above.

  1. 1.What was the profession of Heinrich Laretei?

    • A.Film director
    • B.Concert pianist
    • C.Diplomatcorrect
    • D.Television host

    Heinrich Laretei served as a diplomat for the Republic of Estonia.

    Source: family background section

  2. 2.Who was the piano teacher of Käbi Alma Laretei?

    • A.Igor Stravinsky
    • B.Gunnar Staern
    • C.Maria-Luisa Strub-Morescocorrect
    • D.Paul Hindemith

    Maria-Luisa Strub-Moresco was the piano teacher of Käbi Alma Laretei.

    Source: early education section

  3. 3.In which decade did Käbi Alma Laretei perform in Carnegie Hall?

    • A.1950s
    • B.1960scorrect
    • C.1970s
    • D.1940s

    In the 1960s, Käbi Alma Laretei played to packed halls including Carnegie Hall.

    Source: career section

  4. 4.Who was the first husband of Käbi Alma Laretei?

    • A.Ingmar Bergman
    • B.Gunnar Staerncorrect
    • C.Paul Hindemith
    • D.Igor Stravinsky

    Käbi Alma Laretei was married to Gunnar Staern from 1950 to 1959.

    Source: personal life section

  5. 5.Which of these individuals was a son of Käbi Alma Laretei?

    • A.Paul Hindemith
    • B.Daniel Bergmancorrect
    • C.Gunnar Staern
    • D.Heinrich Laretei

    Käbi Alma Laretei and Ingmar Bergman had a son named Daniel Bergman who was born in 1962.

    Source: family life section

  6. 6.Which film by Ingmar Bergman is dedicated to Käbi Alma Laretei?

    • A.The Silence
    • B.Through a Glass Darklycorrect
    • C.The Magic Flute
    • D.Autumn Sonata

    The 1961 film Through a Glass Darkly by Ingmar Bergman is dedicated to Käbi Alma Laretei.

    Source: marriage and collaboration section

  7. 7.In which year did Käbi Alma Laretei and Ingmar Bergman get married?

    • A.1969
    • B.1950
    • C.1966
    • D.1959correct

    Käbi Alma Laretei and Ingmar Bergman were married in 1959.

    Source: marriage and collaboration section

  8. 8.What is the title of the first book published by Käbi Alma Laretei?

    • A.En bit jordcorrect
    • B.As in a translation
    • C.Through a Glass Darkly
    • D.The Magic Flute

    Käbi Alma Laretei published her first book, En bit jord, in 1976.

    Source: writing career section

  9. 9.Which film features an appearance by Käbi Alma Laretei playing the piano?

    • A.Autumn Sonata
    • B.The Silence
    • C.The Magic Flute
    • D.Fanny and Alexandercorrect

    Käbi Alma Laretei appears playing the piano in a scene of Fanny and Alexander.

    Source: film and music section

  10. 10.What was the year of publication for Käbi Alma Laretei's last book?

    • A.2010
    • B.2014
    • C.2004correct
    • D.1998

    Käbi Alma Laretei published her last book, Såsom i en översättning, in 2004.

    Source: writing career section

  11. 11.What honor was awarded to Käbi Alma Laretei in 1998?

    • A.Estonia's Order of the National Coat of Arms, 3rd Classcorrect
    • B.Estonia's Order of the National Coat of Arms, 1st Class
    • C.British Royal Philharmonic Award
    • D.Sweden's Order of the Polar Star

    Käbi Alma Laretei was awarded Estonia's Order of the National Coat of Arms, 3rd Class in 1998.

    Source: awards section

  12. 12.How old was Käbi Alma Laretei at the time of her death?

    • A.92correct
    • B.90
    • C.91
    • D.89

    Käbi Alma Laretei died on 31 October 2014 at the age of 92.

    Source: death section

  13. 13.Which musical composer did Käbi Alma Laretei work with during her career?

    • A.Johannes Brahms
    • B.Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
    • C.Paul Hindemithcorrect
    • D.Ludwig van Beethoven

    Käbi Alma Laretei worked with Igor Stravinsky and Paul Hindemith.

    Source: career highlights section

  14. 14.What was the name of the daughter of Käbi Alma Laretei and Gunnar Staern?

    • A.Maria
    • B.Alma
    • C.Käbi
    • D.Lindacorrect

    Käbi Alma Laretei and Gunnar Staern had a daughter named Linda, who was born in 1955.

    Source: family life section

  15. 15.In which country did the Laretei family live when they did not return to Estonia in 1940?

    • A.United States
    • B.Swedencorrect
    • C.West Germany
    • D.United Kingdom

    The family did not return to Estonia after the Soviet occupation in 1940 while in Sweden.

    Source: early life section

  16. 16.What was the date of birth of Käbi Alma Laretei?

    • A.31 October 1922
    • B.14 July 1922correct
    • C.14 July 1912
    • D.31 October 1912

    Käbi Alma Laretei was born on 14 July 1922.

    Source: biographical introduction

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