Enjott Schneider Turns 75 – A Composer’s Portrait

Photo: Matthias Vietmaier

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.

Versatility as a Trademark: Between Avant-Garde, Film, and Oratorio

His work is characterized by extraordinary versatility – ranging from avant-garde to film music – and by a unique ability to draw creative potential from contrasting elements. His musical output is consistently accompanied by reflective writing and a critical examination of the cultural and sociological relevance of his work.

A Life Devoted to Music: Enjott Schneider Turns 75

Enjott Schneider studied in Freiburg im Breisgau, where he earned his doctorate in 1977. At the University of Music and Performing Arts in Munich, he influenced generations of students as a professor of music theory and later as Germany’s first professor of film music composition. Just as passionately, he served on the supervisory board of GEMA (Chairman from 2012 to 2017) and as President of the German Composers’ Association (2013–2021), advocating for the interests of his fellow composers.

Over 600 Film Scores – Award-Winning Music for Film and Television

In addition to his writing, Schneider’s compositional work is vast: nine full-length operas, numerous orchestral and chamber music works, sacred music including oratorios, organ concertos, and organ symphonies.

He has composed music for more than 600 films – including Brother of Sleep, 23, Herbstmilch, Stalingrad, Schwabenkinder, Jahrestage, The Miracle of Leipzig, Laconia, and Stauffenberg. His work has received numerous honors such as the Emmy Award, Fipa d’or, Bavarian Film Prize, German Film Award in Gold, and the German Television Award. In 2015, he was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the "Festival Soundtrack Cologne." In 2018, his Chinese-language opera Marco Polo, commissioned by the Chinese government, was premiered in the opera houses of Guangzhou and Beijing to great acclaim.

WERGO CONGRATULATES ENJOTT SCHNEIDER ON HIS 75TH BIRTHDAY!

All Enjott Schneider CDs available at a special price until June 30: