- Born
- Died
- Hans Werner Henze was born on July 1, 1926 in Gütersloh, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. He was a composer and writer, known for The Exorcist (1973), Love Unto Death (1984) and Der junge Lord (1969). He died on October 27, 2012 in Dresden, Germany.
- Henze lived with his partner Fausto Moroni from the early sixties and Moroni planned and planted the celebrated hillside garden around La Leprara. Moroni cared for the composer when he suffered a spectacular emotional collapse during which he barely spoke and had to be encouraged to eat, living as though in a coma. Shortly after Henze's sudden recovery in 2007 Moroni died after a lengthy battle with cancer. Elogium Musicum (2008) for large orchestra and chorus singing a text in Latin of Henze's own is an obituary to his partner of more than 40 years.
- One of the most influential composers of the late 20th century, Henze wrote 10 symphonies and was especially known for his works for music theatre.
- He was noted for his many operas and ballets, and for a commitment to political art, which informs much of his work.
- He was one of the most influential composers of the late 20th century. He wrote 10 symphonies and several works for musical theatre. He was noted for his many operas and ballets, and for his commitment to political art.
- His father was killed on the Eastern Front in WWII. Hans was drafted into the army in 1944, ending the war in a British prisoner-of-war camp. His experiences left him with a lifelong hatred of fascism.
- I realized I could get people to listen to me - to make them laugh or cry or be happy or angry. This was a decisive experience - music as a means of communication.
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content