Brett Dean

b. 1961

Snapshot

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, Markus Stenz, Simone Young, Frank Peter Zimmermann and Daniel Harding

Works by Brett Dean include:
Carlo (1997) for strings, sampler and tape
Beggars and Angels (1999) for large orchestra
The Lost Art of Letter Writing (2006) for violin and orchestra
Bliss (2004–09) opera in three acts

Looking Ahead: new work The Last Days of Socrates for the Berlin Radio Choir, WP with Berlin Philarmonic conducted by Sir Simon Rattle (Apr 2013); portrait concert in Munich Pinakothek der Moderne (Jun); festival features in Lockenhaus (July) and Grafenegg (Aug)

"...a voice of fertile imagination, originality and expressive subtlety." — Chicago Tribune