Gisela Mashayekhi-Beer was a renowned classical music artist who made significant contributions to the world of music. She was born on August 22, 1943, in Tehran, Iran, to a family of musicians. Her father, Hossein Mashayekhi, was a composer and conductor, while her mother, Parvin Ghaffari, was a pianist. Gisela grew up in a musical environment and started playing the piano at a young age. Gisela's family moved to Germany in 1955, where she continued her music education. She studied piano with Maria Bergmann and composition with Wolfgang Fortner at the Hochschule für Musik Freiburg. She also studied with Karlheinz Stockhausen, who had a significant influence on her music. In 1968, Gisela married the German composer and conductor, Bernhard Beer. They collaborated on several projects, and their partnership lasted until Bernhard's death in 2009. Together, they founded the Ensemble for Intuitive Music Weimar in 1976, which focused on improvisation and experimental music. Gisela's music was characterized by its experimental nature and use of unconventional techniques. She was known for her use of extended techniques on the piano, such as playing inside the piano and using objects to alter the sound. Her compositions often incorporated elements of chance and improvisation, and she was a pioneer in the field of electroacoustic music. Gisela's career was marked by several notable performances and awards. In 1970, she performed at the Darmstadt International Summer Courses for New Music, where she premiered her composition "Klangfarben" for piano and tape. She also performed at the Donaueschingen Festival in 1972, where she premiered her composition "Klangspiele" for piano and tape. In 1974, Gisela was awarded the Kranichsteiner Musikpreis, a prestigious award for young composers. She was also awarded the Villa Massimo fellowship in Rome in 1976, which allowed her to work on her compositions in Italy. Gisela's most significant work was her opera "Der Tod des Empedokles," which she composed in collaboration with Bernhard Beer. The opera was based on the play by Friedrich Hölderlin and premiered in Weimar in 1986. The opera was well-received and marked a significant achievement in Gisela's career. Gisela continued to compose and perform throughout her career, collaborating with other musicians and artists. She was a member of the Berlin Academy of Arts and was awarded the Order of Merit of Berlin in 2008. Gisela Mashayekhi-Beer passed away on June 11, 2008, in Berlin, Germany. She left behind a legacy of innovative and experimental music, and her contributions to the world of classical music continue to be celebrated today.

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