2010 is an important year for performances of music by Hans Werner Henze .

In London at The Barbican Centre on 16 and 17 January there will be a dedicated weekend of music by Henze, at which he will be present. Total Immersion: Hans Werner Henze will include the BBC Symphony Orchestra with the BBC Symphony Chorus performing the UK premiere of Elogium Musicum , Fraternité and Symphony No 4, conducted by Oliver Knussen. The Guildhall School of Music and Drama will also contribute a performance of Voices followed by a talk with Henze. On January 17 Ensemble Modern will present Phaedra and will conclude a busy weekend of film, talks and unique concerts discovering the latest works and rediscovering highlights of Hans Werner Henze’s oeuvre.

Still from Phaedra performed by Staatsoper Unter den Linden (c) Ruth Walz

Throughout 2010, the European Capital of Culture is Ruhr. Music institutions of the region will network for the very first time in order to present music by Hans Werner Henze . The program mirrors the range of Henze’s total output and will be the biggest ever feature of his oeuvre. One of the highlights will be the German premiere of Opfergang , then a new production of his latest opera Phaedra (Theater Duisburg, autumn 2010) and the world premiere of Gisela (September 2010), a work for young performers, commissioned by the RUHR.2010. This world premiere performance will be presented in cooperation with the RuhrTriennale