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 Kurtág-Cantus III with Dejana Sekulic (Vl) and Contemporary Insights in Leipzig (25 July)
"Pessimism gets us nowhere, only optimism moves us forward."—Claus-Steffen Mahnkopf
Please also visit Claus-Steffen Mahnkopf’s website at www.claussteffenmahnkopf.de
