Colorful composer Mauricio KAGEL dies
COLOGNE - Yesterday night Mauricio KAGEL (1931-2008), one of the most original and important composers of the 20th century.
Mauricio Kagel was born in 1931 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He studied music, literary history and filosophy at the university of his native town.
In 1950 he wrote his first compositions. Kagel came to Europe in 1957 to settle in the German town of Cologne. He obtained the German nationality in 1980.
In Cologne he worked as a professor for musical theatre at the conservatory and taught composers like Carola Bauckholt, David Sawer and Manos Tsangaris.
Kagel did not adhere to any musical genre. His music is humourous, socially critical, theatrical and features unusual instrumentations and performing techniques.
Kagel used to come to The Netherlands very often because the musical climate was to his liking.
He kept a very warm contact with the Dutch Schönberg Ensemble and its conductor Reinbert de Leeuw. Two years ago they organized a day long concert for his 75th birthday.
In 1977 Kagel conducted a Dutch radio orchestra for the first time when the Radio Philharmonic Orchestra performed his Variationen ohne Fuge.
Since then this orchestra, the former Radio Symphonic Orchestra, the former Radio Chamber Orchestra and the Radio Choir played the following compositions by Kagel: Szenario, Gegenstimmen, Die Erschöpfung der Welt, "1898", Die Mutation, Finale, Generalbass, Vom Hörensagen, Schwarzes Madrigal en Sankt Bach Passion. This last work is scheduled to be performed in the ZaterdagMatinee of 13 December by the Radio Philharmonic Orchestra and the Radio Choir.
We are sad to say the composer will not be conducting.
Mauricio Kagel died at the age of 76.
Watch a fragment of a performance of Exotica.
Watch experimental films by Mauricio Kagel
Laatste aanpassing op Tuesday 23 September 2008
