Reinhard Febel

Full biography Reinhard Febel

Reinhard Febel is a German composer and writer, who has made a significant contribution to the contemporary classical music world. He was born in 1952 in Donaueschingen, Germany, and grew up in a musical family. He studied musicology, philosophy, and education at the University of Tübingen and later earned a doctorate in musicology from the University of Regensburg.

Febel has an extensive and impressive body of work that includes operas, orchestral and chamber music, as well as pieces for solo instruments, voice, and choir. He has received numerous awards and honors for his work, including the Schneider-Schott Music Prize, the WDR Composition Prize, and the South German Radio Prize.

Febel has also taught music at various institutions, including the Universities of Regensburg and Salzburg, and the Music University of Karlsruhe where he held a professorship from 1992 to 2017. His students include many successful contemporary composers, including Wolfgang Rihm and Matthias Pintscher.

John Keats' poetry is a major influence on Febel's music, and he has written several works based on Keats' poems, including his cycle "Bright Star". Febel has also worked with musicians such as the pianist Yaara Tal and the Ensemble Mosaik, with whom he premiered his work "Slumberland".

In addition to his work as a composer, Febel is also an accomplished writer. He has written numerous essays on music and literature and published several books, including the biography of the German composer and conductor Robert Heger.

Overall, Reinhard Febel is an important figure in contemporary classical music. His music is characterized by its expressive power, extensive use of orchestration, and a deep engagement with literature and poetry.