News

There is a distinct magic to Snape Maltings in June. The Suffolk reed beds shimmer, the North Sea breeze carries a quiet creative energy, and the legacy of Benjamin Britten feels entirely alive. But this June, the 77th Aldeburgh Festival carries an even deeper resonance. Marking 50 years since Britten’s passing, the festival is honouring its founder’s vision of the "complete musician”, and they have found the perfect modern embodiment in Ryan Wigglesworth.

Bernard Rands, the distinguished British composer long resident in the USA, most recently in Chicago, has died there on March 4, 2026, at the age of 92 in the company of his wife Augusta Read Thomas, herself a prominent composer. He leaves behind a catalogue of nearly 100 pieces, widely performed and recorded, all published by Schott, as well as an enormous and varied list of students.

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.

Tautrinker – this stage name is not only a translation of the surname of Austrian-born Michael Zlanabitnig but also reflects his visionary approach to music education. Inspired by the music he listened to during his childhood, Tautrinker was drawn to the piano from a young age where he began to explore improvisation and composition.

His aim with his innovative Piano Mantras series, is to build a musical bridge between the world of classical music that is modern, accessible and intuitive. Following the first volume, "Imagine Beethoven", in which he reimagined the powerful music of Ludwig van Beethoven, Tautrinker devotes himself to the immortal melodies of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in the latest volume, "Magic Mozart".

This article explores how these short piano miniatures make playing the piano even more enjoyable, whilst also offering an entirely new approach to the greatest masterpieces in music history.

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

Schott Music is delighted to announce that composer Raymond Yiu’s music is now available from Schott Music.

“Music is the language of humanity.” Faithfully following this motto, Dr Peter Hanser-Strecker shaped not only the destiny of the Schott Music publishing house for over half a century but also acted as one of the most influential figures in the international world of music. With his passing on the evening of 22 January 2026, surrounded by his family in Wiesbaden, the cultural world loses a tireless visionary, an understated patron of the arts, and a publisher of the venerable tradition who instinctively knew how to balance courage for innovation with a respect for heritage. 

January sets the stage for the Viola on both sides of the Atlantic. Whilst the instrument is celebrated in the USA openly, with performances alongside teaching initiatives set as part of National Viola Day, in Europe there are various events that happen to coincide, bringing a well-deserved spotlight to the instrument. Through no specific collaboration across the western hemisphere, January has quietly become a rather significant month for viola players and enthusiasts.

Schott Music, one of the world’s leading music publishers, today announces the appointment of Jeroen Verbeek as Director of International Growth, strengthening the company’s international senior leadership team.

We are delighted to announce that future works by British composer and jazz-trombonist Alex Paxton will be published by Schott Music.