Role

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Composer  

Period

:

Contemporary

Genre

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Chamber

 

 

Keyboard

 

 

Opera

 

 

Orchestral

 

Georges Lentz was a Luxembourgish-Australian composer who was born on January 22, 1965, in Luxembourg City, Luxembourg. He grew up in a family of musicians, with his father being a violinist and his mother a pianist. Lentz began playing the violin at the age of six and later studied composition at the Conservatoire de Luxembourg. In 1983, Lentz moved to Australia to study at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. He continued his studies in composition with Peter Sculthorpe and Ross Edwards, and in conducting with John Hopkins. During this time, Lentz also worked as a freelance violinist and conductor. Lentz's early works were influenced by the music of Sculthorpe and Edwards, as well as the minimalist music of Steve Reich and Philip Glass. His first major work, "Caeli enarrant... IV," was premiered in 1992 by the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and conducted by Edo de Waart. The piece was well-received and established Lentz as a promising young composer. In 1994, Lentz was awarded a scholarship to study at the Akademie Schloss Solitude in Stuttgart, Germany. During his time there, he worked on his second major work, "Mysterium," which was premiered in 1996 by the Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra and conducted by Lothar Zagrosek. "Mysterium" is a large-scale work for orchestra, choir, and soloists, and is based on the writings of the French philosopher and mystic Simone Weil. Lentz's music is known for its spiritual and mystical themes, as well as its use of extended techniques and unconventional instrumentation. His works often feature large-scale forces, such as orchestra, choir, and electronics, and are characterized by their complex textures and rich harmonies. In 2000, Lentz was awarded the Paul Lowin Prize for his work "Ingwe," a solo guitar piece that was inspired by the Australian landscape. The piece is notable for its use of microtonal tuning and its exploration of the guitar's sonic possibilities. Lentz's later works include "Cantus," a requiem for cello and orchestra that was premiered in 2008 by the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra and conducted by Arvo Volmer, and "Monh," a large-scale work for orchestra, choir, and electronics that was premiered in 2012 by the Orchestre Philharmonique du Luxembourg and conducted by Emilio Pomàrico. Lentz's music has been performed by many leading orchestras and ensembles around the world, including the Berlin Philharmonic, the London Symphony Orchestra, and the Ensemble Intercontemporain. He has also been the recipient of numerous awards and honors, including the Luxembourg National Order of Merit and the Australian Art Music Award for Instrumental Work of the Year. In addition to his work as a composer, Lentz was also a respected conductor and educator. He served as the conductor of the Adelaide Chamber Singers from 2001 to 2004 and was a lecturer in composition at the University of Adelaide from 2002 to 2005. Sadly, Lentz passed away on January 22, 2019, on his 54th birthday. His legacy as a composer and musician continues to inspire and influence generations of musicians around the world.

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