Ruzicka, Peter

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Ruzicka, Peter

Ruzicka, Peter , German composer and Intendant; b. Düsseldorf, July 3, 1948. Following training in piano, oboe, and composition at the Hamburg Cons. (1963–68), he studied law and musicology in Munich, Hamburg, and Berlin (Ph.D., 1977). He was Intendant of the (West) Berlin Radio Sym. Orch. from 1979 to 1987. From 1988 to 1997 he was Intendant of the Hamburg State Opera and State Phil. Orch. He also taught at the Hamburg Hochschule für Musik from 1990. In 1996 he became artistic director of the Munich Biennale. He served as artistic advisor of the Royal Concertgebouw Orch. in Amsterdam in 1997. In 1999 he became president of the Bavarian Theater Academy. He also was artistic director of the Salzburg Festival from 2001. He was made a fellow of the Bavarian Academy of Fine Arts in Munich in 1985 and of the Free Academy of Arts in Hamburg in 1987. In his compositions, Ruzicka has followed a determined contemporary path that is reflected in his capable handling of various avant-garde techniques in whatever genre he chooses to explore.

Works

DRAMATIC: Outside-Inside, radiophonie piece (Radio Bremen/Bavarian Radio, June 10, 1972; also as an expanded music theater piece, Augsburg, Aug. 18, 1972). ORCH.: Antifone-Strofe for 25 Solo Strings and Percussion (Göttingen, Oct. 23, 1970); Sinfonia for 25 Solo Strings, 16 Vocalists, and Percussion (1970–71; Stuttgart, Sept. 25, 1971; rev. version, Berlin, Nov. 20, 1974); Versuch, 7 pieces for Strings (1970–74; Stuttgart, Oct. 11, 1975); Metastrofe for 87 Instrumentalists (Berlin, May 4, 1971); In processo di tempo for 26 Instrumentalists and Cello (1971; Hilversum, Sept. 11, 1972); Feed Back for 4 Orch. Groups (Donaueschingen, Oct. 21, 1972); Torso (Cologne, Dec. 7, 1973); Einblendungen (1973–77; Hannover, Dec. 1, 1977); Befragung, 5 pieces (1974; Paris, Oct. 30, 1975); Emanazione, variations for Flute and 4 Orch. Groups (1975; Berlin, Jan. 13, 1976); Abbruche (1977–78; Düsseldorf, April 20, 1978); Annäherung und Stille, 4 fragments after Schumann for Piano and 42 Strings (Interlaken, Aug. 23, 1981); …den Impuls zum Weitersprechen erst empfinge for Viola and Orch. (1981; Saarbrücken, June 1, 1982); Satyagraha (1984; Hamburg, Oct. 16, 1985); Fünf Bruchstücke (1984–87; Berlin, Feb. 15, 1988); Metamorphosen über ein Klangfeld von Joseph Haydn (Cologne, Oct. 5, 1990); …das Gesegnete, das Verfluchte, 4 sketches (1991; Munich, Nov. 27, 1992); Tallis (Kiel, Aug. 11, 1993); …Inseln, randlos… (or Violin, Chamber Chorus, and Orch. (1994–95; Frankfurt am Main, April 27, 1977); Nachtstück (1997; Berlin, April 22, 1998); …Vorgefühle…(1998). CHAMBER: Drei Szenen for Clarinet (1967; Hamburg, Feb. 27, 1970); Ausgeweidet die Zeit…, 3 night pieces for Piano (1969; Spoleto, July 1, 1971); Sonata for Solo Cello (1969; Hamburg, Feb. 27, 1970); 4 string quartets: No. 1 (1969–70; Hamburg, Feb. 27, 1970; rev. version, Kiel, Nov. 20, 1970), No. 2, …fragment…(1970; Stuttgart, June 18, 1974), No. 3, …über ein Verschwinden (1992; Cologne, April 5, 1993), and No. 4, …Sich Verlierend, for String Quartet and Speaker (1996; Cologne, Oct. 14, 1977); Movimenti for Harpsichord (1969–70; Hamburg, June 12, 1974); Stress for 8 Percussion Groups (Munich, April 13, 1972); Zeit for Organ (Kassel, April 3, 1975); Z-Zeit for Organ (1975; Bremen, May 13, 1976); Stille for Cello (Erlangen, Nov. 28, 1976); Seboniana for 3 Flutes, 1 Player (Marktbreit, Sept. 29, 1979); Préludes for Piano (Neumünster, Aug. 16, 1987); Klangschatten for String Quartet (Vienna, Nov. 18, 1991). VOCAL : Esta Noche, funeral music for the victims of the Vietnam War, for Alto or Tenor, Flute, English Horn, Viola, and Cello (1967; Hamburg, April 18, 1968); Todesfuge for Alto, Speaker, Chamber Ensemble, and Tape (1968–69; Hamburg, Feb. 27, 1970); Elis for Mezzo-soprano, Oboe or Oboe d’amore, and Orch. (1969; Leverkusen, April 9, 1970); Gestalt und Abbruch for Voices (Donaueschingen, Oct. 21, 1979); …der die Gesänge zerschlug for Baritone and Chamber Ensemble (Berlin, Sept. 3, 1985); Vier Gesänge nach Fragmenten von Nietzsche for Mezzo-soprano and Piano (1992; Savonlinna, July 13, 1993); Sechs Gesänge nach Fragmenten von Nietzsche for Mezzo-soprano and Orch. (1997; Stuttgart, Feb. 7, 1998). other: DE…/MUSAC for Variable Ensemble (1971); Bewegung for Tape (1972).