Käbi Laretei

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. 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.

• Name — Käbi Laretei • Birth Name — Käbi Alma Laretei • Born — 14 July 1922 • Birthplace — Tartu, Estonia • Died — 31 October 2014 • Place of death — Stockholm, Sweden • Parents — Heinrich Laretei (father) • Occupation — Concert pianist • Children — Two, including Daniel Bergman

• Year — Title — Role — Notes • 1976 — Face to Face — Pianist — Uncredited • 1982 — Fanny and Alexander — Aunt Anna von Bohlen - Ekdahlska huset • 1986 — Flight North — Mother — (final film role)

Käbi Laretei is recorded as having received Order of the National Coat of Arms, 3rd Class, Litteris et Artibus and Member of the Order of Vasa.