following studies in Australia, Brett Dean travelled to Germany in 1985 and became a member of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra as viola player * In addition to orchestral career gave performances as soloist including numerous first performances * In 1988 began composing, initially as an arranger * Worked in improvisation for radio and film projects in Australia * Became established as a composer in his own right through worldwide performances of the ballet One of a Kind (Nederlands Dans Theater, choreographer Jiri Kylian) and by the clarinet concerto Ariel’s Music, which won an award from the UNESCO International Rostrum of Composers * Paintings from his partner Heather Betts have initiated numerous compositions * Since 2000 has lived in Australia as freelance composer * Leading interpreters of Dean’s music include Sir Simon Rattle and Markus Stenz
Looking Ahead: US premieres of Amphitheatre and Moments of Bliss at the Cabrillo Festival (Aug); new string quintet to be premiered by Dean joining the Australian String Quartet (Nov); continung work on his operatic adaptation of Peter Carey’s Bliss for Opera Australia
"...a voice of fertile imagination, originality and expressive subtlety." — Chicago Tribune
