Work of the Week – Wilfried Hiller: The Star Seller

Some stories are so delicate they feel like they might break if spoken too loudly. Wilfried Hiller, a composer whose work has been a guiding light in contemporary music for decades, is gifting us exactly such a story for his 85th birthday. On April 30, 2026, Munich’s Orff-Zentrum will host a gala concert featuring the world premiere of The Star Seller ("Der Sternenverkäufer"). It is a piece that captures everything Hiller stands for: profound humanity, literary sensitivity, and a musical language that touches the soul without ever losing its intellectual depth.

This 35-minute melodrama, set to a text by Alexander Kostinskij, takes us to the Jewish shtetl of Beleopol. It’s a place where fear has bent people’s backs, until a man named Abraham arrives selling stars for a single kopeck. This isn’t about commerce; it’s about transformation. To find one's star, one must look up, stand tall, and reclaim lost dignity. Hiller scores this parable for a narrator, coloratura soprano, violin, piano, and two percussionists, creating a soundscape that feels both intimate and vast.

A cosmic remedy: The Star Seller by Wilfreid Hiller

The work is dedicated to two of Hiller’s closest friends: the legendary ballerina Maya Plissetskaya and the composer Rodion Shchedrin. With Shchedrin's passing last summer, the premiere takes on a moving sense of tribute. It reflects a career built on artistic friendships—from his early days with Carl Orff to his iconic collaborations with Michael Ende on classics like Der Goggolori. Whether inspired by the sculptures of Antje Tesche-Mentzen or vast spiritual themes like his Apocalypse (2023), Hiller has always been a composer of dialogue.

The premiere features an exceptional cast, including narrator Salome Kammer and soprano Anna-Lena Elbert. They are joined by violinist Franziska Strohmayr, pianist Tanja Huppert, and percussionists Claudio Estay and Carlos Vera Larrucea. To close the evening, Hiller’s Ophelia for solo violin will be performed, offering a perfect, poignant bookend to this landmark celebration.

Learn more:

• Wilfried Hiller: Composer Profile

• Event Details: Orff-Zentrum Munich

_{photo of Wilfried Hiller: Astrid Ackermann}