Kurt Schwertsik
b. 1935
Snapshot
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Kurt Schwertsik's music is mercurial and idiosyncratic with a refreshing lightness of touch * Though a pupil of Stockhausen, the composer rejected serialism in favour of new forms of tonality * His search for an 'alternative' modern culture draws inspiration from Satie and the Dada movement * Output includes operas, the Irdische Klänge orchestral cycle (1980-92), concertos for violin, alphorn, guitar, double bass, timpani and flute, and numerous song cycles * Has collaborated on four widely-toured danceworks with choreographer Johann Kresnik * Featured composer at leading festivals, including Almeida, Adelaide, Wien Modern and the Alternative Vienna series in London
Works by Kurt Schwertsik include:
Vienna Chronicles (1976-77) ballet suites for orchestra
The Wondrous Tale of Fanferlizzy Sunnyfeet (1982-83) Fairytale opera in ten scenes
Sinfonia-Sinfonietta (1996) for orchestra
Looking Ahead: Roald Dahl's Goldilocks in Amsterdam (9/10 Oct); world premiere of new orchestral piece Herr K. entdeckt Amerika in Salzburg (29 Oct); new production of Fanferlizzy Sunnyfeet in Wuppertal (18 Jan 2009); premiere of marimba concerto Now you hear me, now you don't on Scottish tour by Colin Currie (3-8 Feb 2009) and at Wigmore Hall in London (11 Feb); Håkan Hardenberger gives UK premiere performances of Divertimento Macchiato on Scottish tour (23-26 Apr 2009)
"Schwertsik's music is homespun, witty, nostalgic, vegetarian, politically liberal, intelligent, anti-authoritarian, widely-read, and deeply in love with tradition." — Financial Times
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Setting the Right Tone
