Celebrated German composer Wolfgang Rihm dies at 72

Admin I Saturday, July 27, 2024

 

BERLIN-  Celebrated German composer Wolfgang Rihm is  dead. He is 72.

Wolfgang Rihm, one of the most influential German composers of the post-World War II generation, died on Friday at the age of 72, his wife said.

Born in the western German city of Karlsruhe, Rihm was one of the most frequently performed contemporary composers in Europe. He leaves behind an oeuvre of well over 500 works, including operas and large orchestral pieces, chamber music and music theatre.

“We lost a true institution in the world of music. His works will endure,” said Minister of State for Culture Claudia Roth in a tribute to Rihm on Saturday.

Rihm made his first attempts at composing at the age of 11. He later studied composition at the Karlsruhe University of Music (HfM) under Eugen Werner Velte and intensively poured over the music of early 20th century greats Arnold Schoenberg and Anton Webern.

He went to Cologne to study with composer Karlheinz Stockhausen. In 1985, he succeeded his former teacher Velte as professor of composition at the HfM in Karlsruhe.

Rihm had his breakthrough in 1974 at the Donaueschingen Music Festival with the premiere of the orchestral piece “Morphonie.”

Rihm’s most significant works also include the operas “Die Eroberung von Mexico” (The Conquest of Mexico), “Die Hamletmaschine” (The Hamletmachine), “Dionysos,” “Jakob Lenz” and “Proserpina,” as well as works from his orchestral repertoire.

“Wolfgang Rihm will be remembered as a creator of musical works with countless layers of meaning,’” said Astrid Koblanck, chief executive officer of music publisher Universal Edition.