The following is a list of notable events and releases that happened in Scandinavian music in 2023.

Events

13 January Events Pre-1600 *27 BC – Octavian transfers the state to the free disposal of the Roman Senate and the people. He receives Spain, Gaul, and Syria as his province for ten years. * 532 – The Nika riots break out, during the racing s ...

– ''

Rolling Stone ''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. The magazine was first known fo ...

'' lists

Björk Björk Guðmundsdóttir ( , ; born 21 November 1965), known mononymously as Björk, is an Icelandic singer, songwriter, composer, record producer, and actress. Noted for her distinct voice, three-octave vocal range, and eccentric public per ...

as the 64th-greatest singer and the 81st- greatest songwriter of all time. *

– The world premiere of the ''Sinfonia concertante'' of

Esa-Pekka Salonen Esa-Pekka Salonen (; born 30 June 1958) is a Finnish conducting, conductor and composer. He is the music director of the San Francisco Symphony and conductor laureate of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Philharmonia Orchestra in London and the Sw ...

takes place at the NOSPR Concert Hall in

Katowice Katowice (, ) is the capital city of the Silesian Voivodeship in southern Poland and the central city of the Katowice urban area. As of 2021, Katowice has an official population of 286,960, and a resident population estimate of around 315,000. K ...

, Poland, inaugurating the hall's new organ, with

Iveta Apkalna Iveta Apkalna (born 30 November 1976, Rēzekne, Latvia) is a Latvian organist and pianist. Biography Iveta Apkalna studied piano and organ at the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music, graduating in both instruments with distinction in 199 ...

as the soloist and the NOSPR conducted by the composer. *

11 February Events Pre-1600 *660 BC – Traditional date for the foundation of Japan by Emperor Jimmu. * 55 – The death under mysterious circumstances of Tiberius Claudius Caesar Britannicus, heir to the Roman Empire, on the eve of his coming ...

– Faroese singer Reiley wins the 53rd

Dansk Melodi Grand Prix Dansk Melodi Grand Prix (), also known as Melodi Grand Prix or simply DMGP, is an annual music competition organised by the Danish public broadcaster DR since 1957, which determines for the Eurovision Song Contest. The festival has produced ...

at Arena Næstved and becomes Denmark's entry for the

Eurovision Song Contest The Eurovision Song Contest (), often known simply as Eurovision, is an international Music competition, song competition organised annually by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) among its members since 1956. Each participating broadcaster ...

25 February Events Pre-1600 * 138 – Roman emperor Hadrian adopts Antoninus Pius as his son, effectively making him his successor. * 628 – Khosrow II, the last great Shah of the Sasanian Empire (Iran), is overthrown by his son Kavadh II. *1 ...

–

Käärijä Jere Mikael Pöyhönen (; born 21 October 1993), known professionally as Käärijä (), is a Finnish rapper, singer and songwriter. He represented Finland in the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 with the song " Cha Cha Cha", placing second with 526 ...

wins the 12th edition of

Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu (; abbreviated UMK; ; ) is an annual music contest organised by the Finnish public broadcaster Yle. It made its debut in 2012 as the format for the Eurovision Song Contest, replacing the previous Finnish Eurovision selection which had been he ...

to become Finland's entry for the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest, with the song Cha Cha Cha. *

4 March Events Pre-1600 *AD 51 – Nero, later to become Roman emperor, is given the title ''princeps iuventutis'' (head of the youth). * 306 – Martyrdom of Saint Adrian of Nicomedia. * 581 – Yang Jian declares himself Emperor Wen of ...

– In the final of Iceland's Söngvakeppnin,

Diljá Diljá Pétursdóttir (; born 15 December 2001), simply known as Diljá, is an Icelandic singer. She represented Iceland in the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 with the song "Power", which topped the charts in Iceland and finished in 11th place ...

is selected to represent the country at the Eurovision Song Contest. *

12 March Events Pre-1600 * 538 – Vitiges, king of the Ostrogoths ends his siege of Rome and retreats to Ravenna, leaving the city to the victorious Byzantine general, Belisarius. * 1088 – Election of Urban II as the 159th Pope of the C ...

– Tax evasion charges against members of Icelandic band

Sigur Rós Sigur Rós () is an Icelandic post-rock band that formed in 1994 in Reykjavík. It comprises lead vocalist and guitarist Jónsi, Jón Þór "Jónsi" Birgisson, bassist Georg Hólm, and keyboardist Kjartan Sveinsson. Known for their ethereal soun ...

are finally dismissed. *

13 May Events Pre-1600 *1344 – A Latin Christian fleet defeats a Turkish fleet in the battle of Pallene during the Smyrniote crusades. *1373 – Julian of Norwich has visions of Jesus while suffering from a life-threatening illness, vis ...

– Sweden's

Loreen Lorine Zineb Nora Talhaoui (born 16 October 1983), known professionally as Loreen (), is a Swedish singer and songwriter. Sweden in the Eurovision Song Contest, Representing Sweden, she won the Eurovision Song Contest in Eurovision Song Conte ...

becomes the first woman to win the

twice, having previously won in 2012. Finland's

finishes in second place. *

9 June Events Pre-1600 *411 BC – The Athenian coup succeeds, forming a short-lived oligarchy. * 53 – The Roman emperor Nero marries Claudia Octavia. * 68 – Nero dies by suicide after quoting Vergil's ''Aeneid'', thus ending the Ju ...

– It is confirmed that Petr Popelka will end his contract as chief conductor of the

Norwegian Radio Orchestra The Norwegian Radio Orchestra (Norwegian, ''Kringkastingsorkestret'', abbreviated as KORK) is a radio orchestra affiliated with the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (''Norsk rikskringkasting AS'', or NRK). Its principal base is the ''Store Studi ...

after the 2022–2023 season. *

22 September Events Pre-1600 * 904 – The warlord Zhu Quanzhong kills Emperor Zhaozong of Tang, Emperor Zhaozong, the penultimate emperor of the Tang dynasty, after seizing control of the imperial government. *1236 – The Samogitians defeat the L ...

– Sweden's

NorrlandsOperan The NorrlandsOperan (), is a Swedish opera company in Umeå, located in Norrland, Sweden. The ownership of NorrlandsOperan is divided between the Umeå Municipality (40%) and the Västerbotten County Council (60%). NorrlandsOperan was establishe ...

confirms Eduardo Strausser as its next principal conductor and music director, effective from autumn 2024 for three seasons. * 16 October – The Helsingborg Symphony Orchestra confirms Maxime Pascal as its next chief conductor, beginning in August 2024. *October/November – Danish rock band

Volbeat Volbeat are a Danish Rock music, rock band formed in Copenhagen in 2001. They play a fusion of rock and roll and Heavy metal music, heavy metal. Their current line-up consists of vocalist and rhythm guitarist Michael Poulsen, drummer Jon Lars ...

continue working on their ninth studio album, while lead vocalist

Michael Poulsen Michael Schøn Poulsen (born 1 April 1975) is a Danish musician. He is the lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist and main songwriter of the rock band Volbeat. Prior to Volbeat, he was the vocalist for the death metal band Dominus. Early life Pou ...

undergoes throat surgery, which prevents the band from performing live shows in 2024.

Albums released

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

Eurovision Song Contest

* Denmark in the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 *

Finland in the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 Finland was represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 with the song "Cha Cha Cha (Käärijä song), Cha Cha Cha", written by Käärijä, Jere Pöyhönen, Johannes Naukkarinen, Aleksi Nurmi, and Jukka Sorsa, and performed by Pöyhönen hims ...

Iceland in the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 Iceland is a Nordic island country between the North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge between North America and Europe. It is culturally and politically linked with Europe and is the region's westernmost and most sparse ...

* Norway in the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 * Sweden in the Eurovision Song Contest 2023

Classical works

Anders Hillborg Per Anders Hillborg (born 31 May 1954) is one of Sweden’s leading composers. Education Anders Hillborg was born in Sollentuna, and studied composition, counterpoint and electronic music at the Kungliga Musikhögskolan in Stockholm from 1976 t ...

– Piano Concerto No. 2 (''The MAX Concerto'') *

Marcus Paus Marcus Nicolay Paus (; born 14 October 1979) is a Norwegian composer and one of the most performed contemporary Scandinavian composers. As a classical contemporary composer he is noted as a representative of a reorientation toward tradition, tonal ...

– '' The War Cross'' *

– ''Sinfonia concertante'' for organ and orchestra * Anna S. Þorvaldsdóttir ** ''Rituals'' (for string quartet) ** ''Ubique

Film and television music

*Pessi Levanto – ''

Superposition In mathematics, a linear combination or superposition is an expression constructed from a set of terms by multiplying each term by a constant and adding the results (e.g. a linear combination of ''x'' and ''y'' would be any expression of the form ...

'' * Peter Peter, with Peter Kyed, Cliff Martinez and Julian Winding – ''

Copenhagen Cowboy ''Copenhagen Cowboy'' is a supernatural noir- thriller television series created by Nicolas Winding Refn for Netflix. The first Danish-language work by Refn since '' Pusher 3'' (2005), it follows Miu ( Angela Bundalovic), a renegade with variou ...

Deaths

9 January Events Pre-1600 * 681 – Twelfth Council of Toledo: King Erwig of the Visigoths initiates a council in which he implements diverse measures against the Jews in Spain. *1038 – An earthquake in Dingxiang, China kills an estimated 32 ...

– Magnar Mangersnes, Norwegian organist and choral conductor, 84 *

15 January Events Pre-1600 * 69 – Otho seizes power in Rome, proclaiming himself Emperor of Rome, beginning a reign of only three months. *1541 – King Francis I of France gives Jean-François Roberval a commission to settle the province of ...

– Doris, Swedish pop singer, 75 *

28 January Events Pre-1600 * 98 – On the death of Nerva, Trajan is declared Roman emperor in Cologne, the seat of his government in lower Germany. * 814 – The death of Charlemagne, the first Holy Roman Emperor, brings about the accession of ...

–

Odd Børre Odd Børre Sørensen (9 August 1939 – 28 January 2023) was a Norwegian pop singer. Internationally, he is best known for the song "Stress (Odd Børre song), Stress" that he performed in the Eurovision Song Contest of 1968. He sang in the Kjell ...

, Norwegian Eurovision singer, 83 *

23 February Events Pre-1600 * 303 – Roman emperor Diocletian orders the destruction of the Christian church in Nicomedia, beginning eight years of Diocletianic Persecution. * 532 – Byzantine emperor Justinian I lays the foundation stone of ...

–

Slim Borgudd Karl Edvard Tommy "Slim" Borgudd (; 25 November 1946 – 23 February 2023) was a Swedish musician and Formula One driver who raced for the ATS and Tyrrell teams. Biography Borgudd was born in Borgholm, Öland, on 25 November 1946. His first ...

, Swedish racing driver and drummer ( Lea Riders Group), 76 *

8 March Events Pre-1600 * 1010 – Ferdowsi completes his epic poem '' Shahnameh''. * 1126 – Following the death of his mother, queen Urraca of León, Alfonso VII is proclaimed king of León. * 1262 – Battle of Hausbergen between ...

– Josua Madsen, Danish drummer, 45 (traffic accident) *

1 April Events Pre-1600 * 527 – Byzantine Emperor Justin I names his nephew Justinian I as co-ruler and successor to the throne. * 1081 – Alexios I Komnenos overthrows the Byzantine emperor Nikephoros III Botaneiates, and, after his troo ...

** Dario Campeotto, Danish-Italian singer Eurovision singer and actor, 84 ** Jack Vreeswijk, Swedish singer, song lyricist and composer, 59 (colon cancer) *

7 April Events Pre-1600 * 451 – Attila the Hun captures Metz in France, killing most of its inhabitants and burning the town. * 529 – First ''Corpus Juris Civilis'', a fundamental work in jurisprudence, is issued by Eastern Roman Emper ...

–

Lasse Wellander Lars-Ove "Lasse" Wellander (18 June 1952 – 7 April 2023) was a Swedish guitarist, best known for his association with ABBA. (Titles of print and online versions differ). He first recorded with the group's backing band in 1974, and played on ...

, Swedish guitarist (

ABBA ABBA ( ) were a Swedish pop group formed in Stockholm in 1972 by Agnetha Fältskog, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, and Anni-Frid Lyngstad. They are one of the most popular and successful musical groups of all time, and are one of the List ...

), 70 *

1 May Events Pre-1600 * 305 – Diocletian and Maximian retire from the office of Roman emperor. * 880 – The Nea Ekklesia is inaugurated in Constantinople, setting the model for all later cross-in-square Orthodox churches. * 1169 &nd ...

–

Pugh Rogefeldt Anders Sture Torbjörn "Pugh" Rogefeldt (, ; 2 March 1947 – 1 May 2023) was a Swedish singer, musician, guitarist and songwriter. Musical career Rogefeldt made his breakthrough in the late 1960s with albums such as ''Ja, dä ä dä'' and '' ...

, Swedish musician and songwriter, 76 *

14 May Events Pre-1600 *1027 – Robert II of France names his son Henry I of France, Henry I as junior King of the Franks. *1097 – The Siege of Nicaea begins during the First Crusade. *1264 – Battle of Lewes: Henry III of England is ...

** Garðar Cortes, Icelandic operatic tenor and opera director, founder of

The Icelandic Opera The Icelandic Opera (''Íslenska óperan'') is an opera company based in Reykjavík that produces operas and concerts. Its productions emphasize Icelandic artists, but regularly involve foreign artists as well. The company performs between October ...

, 82 **

Bernt Rosengren Bernt Åke Rosengren (24 December 1937 – 15 May 2023) was a Swedish jazz tenor saxophonist. His recordings earned him five Gyllene Skivan awards in Sweden over more than forty years. Biography Rosengren first played professionally at age 19, ...

, Swedish jazz saxophonist, 85 *

20 May Events Pre-1600 * 325 – The First Council of Nicaea is formally opened, starting the first ecumenical council of the Christian Church. * 491 – Empress Ariadne marries Anastasius I. The widowed '' Augusta'' is able to choose her s ...

–

Sven Nyhus Sven Nyhus (21 May 1932 – 20 May 2023) was a Norwegian folk musician, fiddler, composer and musicologist. He was born in Røros Municipality; the son of construction worker and fiddler Peder Nyhus, and the father of Harding fiddler Åshild Bre ...

, Norwegian folk musician, 90 *

2 June Events Pre-1600 * 260 – Sima Zhao's regicide of Cao Mao: The figurehead Wei emperor Cao Mao personally leads an attempt to oust his regent, Sima Zhao; the attempted coup is crushed and the emperor killed. * 455 – Sack of Rome: ...

–

Kaija Saariaho Kaija Anneli Saariaho (; ; 14 October 1952 – 2 June 2023) was a Finnish composer based in Paris, France. During the course of her career, Saariaho received commissions from the Lincoln Center for the Kronos Quartet and from IRCAM for the En ...

, Finnish composer, 70 *

4 July Events Pre-1600 * 362 BC – Battle of Mantinea: The Thebans, led by Epaminondas, defeated the Spartans. * 414 – Emperor Theodosius II, age 13, yields power to his older sister Aelia Pulcheria, who reigned as regent and procl ...

– Miki Liukkonen, Finnish writer and musician, 33 *

5 July Events Pre-1600 * 328 – The official opening of Constantine's Bridge built over the Danube between Sucidava ( Corabia, Romania) and Oescus ( Gigen, Bulgaria) by the Roman architect Theophilus Patricius. * 1316 – The Burgundian ...

– Ralph Lundsten, Swedish composer, 86 *

22 July Events Pre-1600 * 838 – Battle of Anzen: The Byzantine emperor Theophilos suffers a heavy defeat by the Abbasids. *1099 – First Crusade: Godfrey of Bouillon is elected the first Defender of the Holy Sepulchre of The Kingdom of J ...

–

Knut Riisnæs Knut Riisnæs (13 November 1945 – 22 July 2023) was a Norwegian jazz musician (saxophone and flute), arranger, and composer, son of pianist Eline Nygaard Riisnæs and brother of classical pianist Anne Eline Riisnæs (1951–) and jazz saxopho ...

, Norwegian jazz musician, 77 * 12 August –

Berit Lindholm Berit Maria Lindholm (; 18 October 1934 – 12 August 2023) was a Swedish dramatic soprano. She was first based at the Royal Swedish Opera and made an international career, performing at the Royal Opera House in London, the Bayreuth Festival an ...

, Swedish operatic soprano, 88 *

15 August Events Pre-1600 * 636 – Arab–Byzantine wars: The Battle of Yarmouk between the Byzantine Empire and the Rashidun Caliphate begins. * 717 – Arab–Byzantine wars: Maslama ibn Abd al-Malik begins the Second Arab Siege of Constan ...

–

Arnold Östman Arnold Otto Natanael Östman (24 December 1939 – 15 August 2023) was a Swedish conductor and music director. Early life Arnold Östman was born in Malmö, Sweden. He studied art history and musicology at Lund, Paris and Stockholm. As a musici ...

, Swedish conductor, 83 * 26 August –

Bosse Broberg Bo Lennart "Bosse" Broberg (6 September 1937 – 26 August 2023)Uppsalas jazzleg ...

, Swedish jazz trumpeter and composer, 85 *

3 October Events Pre-1600 *2457 BC – Gaecheonjeol, Hwanung (환웅) purportedly descended from heaven. South Korea's National Foundation Day. *52 BC – Gallic Wars: Vercingetorix, leader of the Gauls, surrenders to the Romans under Julius Cae ...

–

Harald Tusberg Harald Tusberg (6 April 1935 – 3 October 2023) was a Norwegian television personality, screenwriter, songwriter and author. Biography Harald Tusberg was born in Bergen on 6 April 1935. His parents were Kristoffer Lund Jensen Tusberg and Sig ...

, Norwegian TV presenter, musician and songwriter, 88 * 19 October –

Lasse Berghagen Lars Nils "Lasse" Berghagen (13 May 1945 – 19 October 2023) was a Swedish singer and songwriter. He represented Sweden in the Eurovision Song Contest 1975 with the song "Jennie, Jennie". He was also known for presenting on Swedish television ...

, Swedish singer-songwriter, 78 *

25 October Events Pre-1600 * 285 or 286 – Execution of Saints Crispin and Crispinian during the reign of Diocletian, now the patron saints of leather workers, curriers, and shoemakers. * 473 – Emperor Leo I acclaims his grandson Leo II a ...

– Hans Mosesson, Swedish actor, singer and songwriter, 79 * 19 November –

Catherine Christer Hennix Catherine Christer Hennix (also known as C.C. Hennix; 25 January 1948 – 19 November 2023) was a Swedish musician, poet, philosopher, mathematician and visual artist. As a musician, she worked with figures such as Pandit Pran Nath, La Monte Yo ...

, Swedish polymath, 75 *

24 November Events Pre-1600 * 380 – Theodosius I makes his '' adventus'', or formal entry, into Constantinople. *1190 – Conrad of Montferrat becomes King of Jerusalem upon his marriage to Isabella I of Jerusalem. *1221 – Genghis Khan def ...

–

Jukka Haavisto Juhani "Jukka" Haavisto (5 June 1930 – 24 November 2023) was a Finnish musician with the honorary title of music councilor. He also worked as a businessman in advertising business from 1959 to the 1990s, when he retired. However, he is perhaps ...

, Finnish musician and music writer, 93 *

25 November Events Pre-1600 *571 BC – Servius Tullius, king of Rome, celebrates the first of his three triumphs for his victory over the Etruscans. *1034 – Máel Coluim mac Cináeda, King of Scots, dies. His grandson, Donnchad, son of Bethó ...

–

Yngvar Numme Yngvar Numme (1 October 1944 – 25 November 2023) was a Norwegian singer, actor, revue writer and director. He was particularly known for his central role in the show group Dizzie Tunes for about forty years, one of the most successful ensemble ...

, Norwegian singer and actor, 79 *

6 December Events Pre-1600 *1060 – Béla I is crowned king of Hungary. * 1240 – Mongol invasion of Rus': Kyiv, defended by Voivode Dmytro, falls to the Mongols under Batu Khan. *1492 – After exploring the island of Cuba (which he ha ...

– , Finnish musician and conductor, 74 *

20 December Events Pre-1600 *AD 69 – Antonius Primus enters Rome to claim the title of Emperor for Nero's former general Vespasian. *1192 – Richard I of England is captured and imprisoned by Leopold V of Austria on his way home to England af ...

–

Torben Ulrich Torben Ulrich (4 October 1928 – 20 December 2023) was a Danish writer, musician, filmmaker, and professional tennis player. He was the father of Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich. Biography Ulrich was born on 4 October 1928 in Copenhagen, the ...

, Danish polymath, 95

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:2023 Scandinavian Years in Scandinavian music