Charlotte Schmitt

In his substantial compositional output, Aribert Reimann created a rich collection of compositions which have unquestionably exerted an influence on contemporary music theatre. His unmistakable personal style is characterised by strict logic and highly complex tonal structures which are finely chiselled down to the smallest detail. At the same time, his music possesses a powerful innate emotionality which directly captures his listeners. This is borne out by his instrumental works and vocal compositions and to a particular degree, his operas, which are considered the most significant of the entire contemporary period. Reimann primarily selects his plots from world literature and transforms them into unique forms through his own musical language.

To celebrate the 100th birthday of Morton Feldman, Wergo is releasing a complete recording of all his piano works for more than two hands.

Foto: Julius Berger jun.

All the works on this recording were performed at the Asiago Festival during the past 25 years or were composed expressly for Asiago. This recording only includes works written for the Cello Duo Berger, often in combination with other instruments or the human voice. 

The new album Körper [Body] with works by Enno Poppe joins a series of its own on WERGO, the albums of which are dedicated to the composer born in 1969, who has steadily developed into a permanent fixture among German composers of international renown.

Enjott Schneider celebrates his 75th birthday on May 25 – a perfect occasion to honor the remarkably diverse work of one of the most frequently performed German composers of contemporary music. Whether as an award-winning film composer (Brother of Sleep, Stalingrad), as a creator of operas and orchestral works (Marco Polo), or as a dedicated cultural advocate – Enjott Schneider has shaped the German music landscape on many levels for decades. With over 600 film scores, numerous organ compositions, oratorios, and operas, his oeuvre ranks among the most extensive of his generation.

WERGO congratulates the composer with an exclusive anniversary offer: All Enjott Schneider CDs are available at a special price until June 30.

Forgotten, dusty, outdated? Not at all! While many have already written off the pipe organ, it is currently experiencing a revolutionary rediscovery – and beyond church walls. With computer-based controls and unexpected soundscapes, Berlin's AGGREGATE Festival demonstrates what the organ is truly capable of.

Experimental piano meets orchestral big band: Sebastian Sternal and the Frankfurt Radio Big Band break new ground on their album Turning Point. Genre-crossing Sebastian Sternal has written music for the Frankfurt Radio Big Band that sounds almost classical while retaining the freedom of jazz. In each piece, the musicians celebrate the rules of their art at the highest level by breaking them with relish. A feast of sounds for discerning music lovers of all genres.

Xilin Wang is one of China's most important composers. The “Symphony No. 3” was composed in 1989. The four-movement work is considered a "serious meditation" on the ten-year-long inhumane "Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution" and was written under the impression of the massacre at Tiananmen Square.

We congratulate Ludger Brümmer on winning the Honorary Award of the German Record Critics' Award.

Orbe Rotundo – From Life, Magic and Death - for vocal solos, choir and orchestra is a scenic picture book on the liturgical year based on Latin and medieval texts. The 50-minute work has the same instrumentation as Orff's "Carmina Burana" and is conceived as its sister work and modern update. We spoke with the composer Enjott Schneider about his work.