Claus-Steffen Mahnkopf
• trained and influenced most greatly by Brian Ferneyhough’s complexism, Klaus Huber and Emmanuel Nunes
• also studied piano under James Avery, music theory with Peter Förtig as well as, among others, musicology and philosophy with Jürgen Habermas and sociology under Ludwig von Friedeberg.
• awarded his PhD doctor for a thesis on Arnold Schönberg
• published numerous essays and books on music, related to theory, philosophy and aesthetics
• has been Professor of Composition at the University of Music and Theatre “Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy” in Leipzig since 2005
• Focal points include repeated explorations of the chamber symphony genre and his “void” cycle consisting of compositions with different instrumentation. Mahnkopf has also been working for some time on a “void” opera.
• important interpreters of his work are, among others, Neue Vocalsolisten, Schola Heidelberg, Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin, Ensemble Aisthesis, SWR Vokalensemble, Ensemble Surplus, Peter Veale, James Avery
Works by Claus-Steffen Mahnkopf include:
Chamber Symphony No.5 (2022) for chamber orchestra
Dov’è? (2017(18) for five voices and orchestra
Hommage à Daniel Libeskind I–III (2002) for ensemble
Angelus Novus (1997–2000) Music theatre after Walter Benjamin
Works by Claus-Steffen Mahnkopf are published by Boosey & Hawkes / Sikorski.
Looking ahead: world premiere of Ukraine Triptych for three soloists and orchestra in Gera with Kyiv Symphony Orchestra under Luigi Gaggero in Gera (Febr 23)
"Pessimism gets us nowhere, only optimism moves us forward."—Claus-Steffen Mahnkopf
Please also visit Claus-Steffen Mahnkopf’s website at www.claussteffenmahnkopf.de
