Composition Commission issued to Hans Werner Henze

Deutsche Oper Berlin, Germany

With a continuity spanning decades the collaboration between Berlin opera house Deutsche Oper Berlin and Hans Werner Henze marks a key chapter in German musical history. The cooperation began in 1956 with the premiere of the opera “König Hirsch” by the then 30-year old composer. This led on to further premieres of such central works as the ballet “Der Idiot” (1960, new version) as well as the operas “Der junge Lord” (1965) and “Das verratene Meer” (1990). With prominent new productions of other Henze works like “Undine”, “Die Bassariden” and “Der Prinz von Homburg” the Deutsche Oper also made a considerable contribution to Henze’s renown as one of the most important German composers of his generation. To mark this fact – and also reflecting the opera’s declared wish to further patronize Hans Werner Henze and his musical creativity as well as contemporary music in the form of commissioned works – the Deutsche Oper Berlin is now to make a Henze premiere a central program feature at its 100th anniversary gala. The composer has already expressed his willingness to write a new work and aims to express his affiliation to the opera house by exploring the musical material from those pieces premiered at the Deutsche Oper Berlin. This large-scale orchestral piece lasting approx. 20 minutes and receiving extensive support from the Ernst von Siemens Music Foundation will therefore not only add a key accent to the opera house’s anniversary celebrations but also give Henze himself the opportunity to review this phase of his artistic creativity.

October 20th 2012 
Deutsche Oper Berlin

Further Information:
www.deutscheoperberlin.de