Honouring Helmut Zapf on his 60th birthday means looking back for a moment at the last four decades of the development of contemporary music, particularly in the eastern part of the German Republic. Zapf’s personality stands out - first and foremost as a composer, but also as a teacher, founder and director of ensembles working with young musicians, and to this day as a festival founder and director.

Three young composers are therefore taking part in our tribute, who were all taught and moulded by Helmut Zapf. They were asked, and agreed, to create a small musical bouquet of miniatures for their mentor - you will experience a concert with several world premieres!

Samuel Johnstone - seven verses (2021) WP

Helmut Zapf - Heimat (2018)

Kaspar Querfurth - Entflirrung (2021) WP

Georg Katzer - Godot kommt doch, geht aber wieder (2000)

Dong-Myung Kim - Abstand (2021) WP

Helmut Zapf - via rupta (2009)