Siegfried Matthus

Siegfried Matthus (born 13 April 1934 in Mallenuppen/Ostpreußen) is a German composer and opera director living in Berlin and is Germany's most often performed contemporary composer. [ [http://www.musicassociatesofamerica.com/roster/matthus/matthus_biography.html Music Associates of America] ]

Biography

Matthus attended secondary school in Rheinsberg, followed with studies the Hochschule für Musik in Berlin. After graduating, he continued his studies in composition with Rudolf Wagner-Régeny and Hanns Eisler, and was shortly thereafter made the youngest composer in residence in the history of the Komische Oper Berlin by Walter Felsenstein. Matthus has written more than a dozen stage works sense, including "Graf Mirabeau" (1987-88), an opera set during the the French Revolution which was commissioned for the 200th anniversary of Bastille Day and enjoyed simultaneous productions in both East and West Germany as well as Czechoslovakia, the Soviet Union and France. The opera has also been recorded by the Berlin State Opera. Other opera recordings include his Old Testament-based "opera vision" "Judith" (1984) by the Komische Oper Berlin and his "Der letzte Schuss" with the Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra. Recently, he composed music for both a ballet and an opera adaptation of Michael Ende's "The Neverending Story" (2003).

Matthus's has also been a prolific composer of works for orchestra as well as chamber and recital compositions. He has enjoyed a close working relationship with conductor Kurt Masur who has presented many world premieres of his music, including what Matthus has called "the commission of my life," a "Te Deum" for the reconsecration of the Dresden Frauenkirche. His works are featured on more than twenty recordings by several of Germany's leading symphony orchestras and chamber music ensembles.

Matthus is currently the Artistic Director of the Kammeroper Rheinsberg where he has served since 1991. He is also the founder and director of the Rheinsberg Music Festival and an honorary citizen of the city of Rheinsberg.

Compositions

Opera

*1960-63 Lazarillo von Tormes
*1966/67 "Der letzte Schuss" (The Last Shot)
*1971 Noch einen Löffel Gift, Liebling? (Another Spoonful of Poison, Darling?) (Komische Kriminaloper von Peter Hacks nach der Komödie „Risky Marriage“ von Saul O'Hara)
*1972 - 74 Omphale (von Peter Hacks)
*1974 Mario the Magician
*1983/84 "Die Weise von Liebe und Tod des Cornets Christoph Rilke" (The Tune of Love and Death) (nach Rainer Maria Rilke)
*1982-84 "Judith" (nach Friedrich Hebbel)
*1987/88 "Graf Mirabeau"
*1990/91 Desdemona und ihre Schwestern (Desdemona and Her Sisters) (nach Christine Brückner)
*1998 Farinelli oder die Macht des Gesanges (Farinelli or The Power of Singing)
*1998/99 Kronprinz Friedrich (Libretto von Thomas Höft)
*2003 Die unendliche Geschichte (nach Michael Ende im Auftrag des Kultusministeriums von Rheinland-Pfalz, Libretto von Anton Perrey)

References