Reinhard Seehafer
Encyclopedia
Reinhard Seehafer is a German conductor
, pianist
and composer
of contemporary classical music
.
in Germany
. In 1975, the music director Rolf Reuter recognized the talent of the young pianist and composer, and taught him in his conducting class at the Academy of Music and Drama "Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy" Leipzig
alongside Georg Christoph Biller
, currently Thomaskantor
, and Claus Peter Flor
. From 1976 to 1982 Reinhard Seehafer studied with Rolf Reuter and Kurt Masur
, and subsequently with Otmar Suitner
and Leonard Bernstein
.
In 1982 he created a sensation with Giacomo Puccini's Madame Butterfly at the Komische Oper Berlin
, and was immediately engaged there.
He worked with directors and choreographers such as Harry Kupfer
, Joachim Herz and Tom Schilling. In 1989 he became principal conductor and Artistic director of the opera house of Görlitz
.
In 1991, together with the director of the opera house Görlitz ,Wolf-Dieter Ludwig (* 1928 Legnica - † 2007 Sanary sur Mer), Reinhard Seehafer co-founded the cross-cultural project EUROPERA where he was musical director and principal conductor until 1998. In the same year he founded the Europa Philharmonie
, where he is principal conductor to this day. Furthermore, Reinhard Seehafer has performed at the Dresden Staatskapelle and the Semper Opera, at Gewandhaus Orchestra and Oper Leipzig
, the Staatskapelle Weimar
, the German National Theater, the Dresden Philharmonic, the Arthur Rubinstein Philharmonic Orchestra of Lodz, the Borusan Istanbul Philharmonic Orchestra
, National Orchestra of the Bolshoi Theater in Minsk, the Orquesta Sinfonica Nacional de Bogota, the Konzerthausorchester Berlin, the Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra
and the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra
.
In his compositional work, Reinhard Seehafer has dedicated himself to various genres and styles. In addition to chamber music and opera, large symphonic works hold a central position in its activities as a composer.
In 2007, Reinhard Seehafer created a newly reconstructed version of Germany's first opera
, "Dafne" which was lost during the Thirty Years' War, on the basis of the original libretto by Martin Opitz to music by Heinrich Schütz
.
Reinhard Seehafer has four children, daughters, Frederica (b. 1983) and Cordelia (* 1987) from his first marriage with harpist Cornelia Smaczny—and lives with his second wife, singer and music publisher Carmen Seehafer, who is ten years his junior, together with their son, Robert-Leonard (* 1993) and daughter Constance (* 1997).
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
, pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
and composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
of contemporary classical music
Contemporary classical music
Contemporary classical music can be understood as belonging to the period that started in the mid-1970s with the retreat of modernism. However, the term may also be employed in a broader sense to refer to all post-1945 modern musical forms.-Categorization:...
.
Biography
At the age of 5 years, Reinhard Seehafer received his first piano lessons. In addition, he composed little piano pieces, chamber music and songs. As a young musician, he was a prizewinner at the Beethoven Piano Competition and Improvisation Competition WeimarWeimar
Weimar is a city in Germany famous for its cultural heritage. It is located in the federal state of Thuringia , north of the Thüringer Wald, east of Erfurt, and southwest of Halle and Leipzig. Its current population is approximately 65,000. The oldest record of the city dates from the year 899...
in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. In 1975, the music director Rolf Reuter recognized the talent of the young pianist and composer, and taught him in his conducting class at the Academy of Music and Drama "Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy" Leipzig
Leipzig
Leipzig Leipzig has always been a trade city, situated during the time of the Holy Roman Empire at the intersection of the Via Regia and Via Imperii, two important trade routes. At one time, Leipzig was one of the major European centres of learning and culture in fields such as music and publishing...
alongside Georg Christoph Biller
Georg Christoph Biller
Georg Christoph Biller is a German choral conductor, conducting the Thomanerchor since 1992 as the sixteenth Thomaskantor since Johann Sebastian Bach...
, currently Thomaskantor
Thomaskantor
The Thomaskantor is the musical director of the Thomanerchor in Leipzig, founded in 1212. He is appointed by Leipzig's city council and his duties are to lead the weekly services called Motette, Sunday services and other services in the Thomaskirche, also to conduct recordings and tours.Johann...
, and Claus Peter Flor
Claus Peter Flor
Claus Peter Flor is a German conductor. He played the violin as a youth, and later was a conducting student with Rolf Reuter....
. From 1976 to 1982 Reinhard Seehafer studied with Rolf Reuter and Kurt Masur
Kurt Masur
Kurt Masur is a German conductor, particularly noted for his interpretation of German Romantic music.- Biography :Masur was born in Brieg, Lower Silesia, Germany and studied piano, composition and conducting in Leipzig, Saxony. Masur has been married three times...
, and subsequently with Otmar Suitner
Otmar Suitner
Otmar Suitner was an Austrian conductor who spent most of his professional career in East Germany. He was born in Innsbruck and died in Berlin. He was Principal Conductor of the Staatskapelle Dresden from 1960 to 1964, and then Music Director at the Berlin State Opera from 1964 to 1990...
and Leonard Bernstein
Leonard Bernstein
Leonard Bernstein August 25, 1918 – October 14, 1990) was an American conductor, composer, author, music lecturer and pianist. He was among the first conductors born and educated in the United States of America to receive worldwide acclaim...
.
In 1982 he created a sensation with Giacomo Puccini's Madame Butterfly at the Komische Oper Berlin
Komische Oper Berlin
The Komische Oper Berlin is an opera company in Berlin, Germany, which specializes in German language productions of opera, operetta and musicals....
, and was immediately engaged there.
He worked with directors and choreographers such as Harry Kupfer
Harry Kupfer
Harry Kupfer is a German opera director. He studied theatre in Leipzig and directed his first opera, Antonín Dvořák's Rusalka, in 1958....
, Joachim Herz and Tom Schilling. In 1989 he became principal conductor and Artistic director of the opera house of Görlitz
Görlitz
Görlitz is a town in Germany. It is the easternmost town in the country, located on the Lusatian Neisse River in the Bundesland of Saxony. It is opposite the Polish town of Zgorzelec, which was a part of Görlitz until 1945. Historically, Görlitz was in the region of Upper Lusatia...
.
In 1991, together with the director of the opera house Görlitz ,Wolf-Dieter Ludwig (* 1928 Legnica - † 2007 Sanary sur Mer), Reinhard Seehafer co-founded the cross-cultural project EUROPERA where he was musical director and principal conductor until 1998. In the same year he founded the Europa Philharmonie
Europa Philharmonie
The Europa Philharmonie is a European symphony orchestra made up of musicians from European Union countries as well as musicians from all over the world who have made Europe their home. Since 2009, the orchestra has been based in Baden-Württemberg, Germany, and is supported by the association...
, where he is principal conductor to this day. Furthermore, Reinhard Seehafer has performed at the Dresden Staatskapelle and the Semper Opera, at Gewandhaus Orchestra and Oper Leipzig
Oper Leipzig
Oper Leipzig is an opera house and opera company in Leipzig, Germany.The Leipzig Opera traces its establishment to the year 1693, making it the third oldest opera venue in Europe after La Fenice and the Hamburg State Opera...
, the Staatskapelle Weimar
Staatskapelle Weimar
The Deutsche Nationaltheater and Staatskapelle Weimar is the most important musical and theatrical venue in Weimar in Germany. It is a twin institution, consisting of the theatrical Deutsches Nationaltheater and the symphony orchestra known as the Staatskapelle Weimar...
, the German National Theater, the Dresden Philharmonic, the Arthur Rubinstein Philharmonic Orchestra of Lodz, the Borusan Istanbul Philharmonic Orchestra
Borusan Istanbul Philharmonic Orchestra
The Borusan Istanbul Philharmonic Orchestra was founded by enlarging the Borusan Chamber Orchestra in 1999. This orchestra is funded by Borusan Holding.- History:...
, National Orchestra of the Bolshoi Theater in Minsk, the Orquesta Sinfonica Nacional de Bogota, the Konzerthausorchester Berlin, the Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra
Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra
The Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra is an orchestra in Serbia, regularly considered as one of the finest in the country. Its home base is in Belgrade.- History :...
and the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra
Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra
The Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra of the Israel Broadcasting Authority is a major orchestra of Israel...
.
In his compositional work, Reinhard Seehafer has dedicated himself to various genres and styles. In addition to chamber music and opera, large symphonic works hold a central position in its activities as a composer.
In 2007, Reinhard Seehafer created a newly reconstructed version of Germany's first opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
, "Dafne" which was lost during the Thirty Years' War, on the basis of the original libretto by Martin Opitz to music by Heinrich Schütz
Heinrich Schütz
Heinrich Schütz was a German composer and organist, generally regarded as the most important German composer before Johann Sebastian Bach and often considered to be one of the most important composers of the 17th century along with Claudio Monteverdi...
.
Reinhard Seehafer has four children, daughters, Frederica (b. 1983) and Cordelia (* 1987) from his first marriage with harpist Cornelia Smaczny—and lives with his second wife, singer and music publisher Carmen Seehafer, who is ten years his junior, together with their son, Robert-Leonard (* 1993) and daughter Constance (* 1997).
Compositions
- Trio für Klavier, Violine und Violoncello Six Variations sur un theme des trouveres (1999)
- Parable (2002)
- Die Wüste hat zwölf Ding (2002)
- Concert for Cello and Orchestra (2003)
- Sinfonie Nr.1 (2003)
- Oper „Hochzeit an der Elbe“ (2004)
- Sinfonietta Dauna (2005)
- Amadeus-Fantasy (2005)
- Land of Enchantment (2006)
- Dafne reconstructed version of Germany's first opera by Heinrich SchützHeinrich SchützHeinrich Schütz was a German composer and organist, generally regarded as the most important German composer before Johann Sebastian Bach and often considered to be one of the most important composers of the 17th century along with Claudio Monteverdi...
and Martin Opitz(2007) - BachTrium (2007)
- Mondviole Poem für Viola, Bariton und Orchester (2007)
- Leaving Saturn (2008)
- Esther Bearbeitung der biblischen Oper von Joseph Messner (2008)
- Ludus quadruplus ad honorem Henning KagermannHenning KagermannHenning Kagermann was chairman of the Executive Board and Chief Executive Officer of SAP AG. Together with Hasso Plattner, co-founder of SAP, he was co-chairman of the SAP Executive Board and CEO From 1998 to 2003...
Konzert für 2 Klaviere zu acht Händen und Orchester (2009) - Konzert für Violine, Tuba und Orchester (2009)
- The Crucified Planet Oratorium (2010)
- Piano-Quintet (2011)