Jörg Widmann

Award-winning German composer, clarinettist and conductor Jörg Widmann was born in Munich on 19 June 1973, taking clarinet lessons from the age of seven and studying composition from age eleven. He studied clarinet at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater München with Gerd Starke and at the Juilliard School in New York with Charles Neidlich. His composition teachers have included Kay Westermann, Hans Werner Henze, Wilfried Hiller and Wolfgang Rihm.

As a clarinettist, several concerti have been dedicated to and first performed by Widmann. As a composer he has written a trilogy of orchestral works - Lied, Chor and Messe - which explore transferring vocal forms into orchestral writing. He has also written much other orchestral and chamber music. His opera Babylon received its first performance at Bavarian State Opera on 27 October 2012.

He has been composer- and/or artist-in-residence in Salzburg, Lucerne, Cologne, Vienna, Cleveland Ohio and at the West Cork Chamber Music Festival. He is principal guest conductor of the Irish Chamber Orchestra.

He lives and works in Freiburg (where he's professor of clarinet and composition at the University) and Munich, and there's more information about him at joergwidmann.com

A selection of articles about Jörg Widmann

Spotlight. Most Innovative and Interesting - Music for horn, enjoyed by Geoff Pearce. '... one cannot help but be impressed with the performances, the power of the music and what it is expressing ...'

CD Spotlight. Fascinating Listening - Music by Wolfgang Rihm, recommended for those who enjoy the challenges of listening to contemporary music, by Geoff Pearce. 'The performers here really excel and do this music justice.'

CD Spotlight. Awakening the Joy for Life - Béla Hartmann is impressed by music for clarinet and piano by Brahms and Widmann played by Jörg Widmann and András Schiff. 'In every respect this is a superb CD, combining playing of the highest craft and musical understanding with great works of the past, as well as new contributions which are likely to become established regulars in the modern piano repertoire.'

Ensemble. A Mirror of Time - Giuseppe Pennisi reports on a trendy concert series in Rome

Ensemble. A Long Musical Summer - Giuseppe Pennisi attended the Chigiana International Festival in Siena

Ensemble. Technically Perfect - Suzanne Torrey listens to and watches Joshua Bell

Ensemble. A Remarkable Event - Paul Sarcich visits the West Cork Chamber Music Festival