12 Facts About Siegfried Matthus

Siegfried Matthus was a German composer, conductor, and festival founder and manager.

Siegfried Matthus was born in Mallenuppen, East Prussia.

Siegfried Matthus's father was a farmer and played for entertainment and dancing.

Siegfried Matthus's father made sure that the son received piano lessons.

Siegfried Matthus attended secondary school in Rheinsberg, followed by studies at the Hochschule fur Musik Hanns Eisler in Berlin.

Siegfried Matthus was a prolific composer of works for orchestra as well as chamber and recital compositions.

Siegfried Matthus enjoyed a close working relationship with conductor Kurt Masur who presented many world premieres of his music.

Masur conducted what Siegfried Matthus called "the commission of my life", a Te Deum for the reopening of the Dresden Frauenkirche after restoration, broadcast live on 11 November 2005.

Siegfried Matthus's works are featured on more than twenty recordings by several of Germany's leading symphony orchestras and chamber music ensembles.

Since 1957, Siegfried Matthus was married to the singer Helga Siegfried Matthus.

Siegfried Matthus died in his home on 27 August 2021 at the age of 87 after a protracted illness.

Siegfried Matthus's oeuvre includes 14 operas, over 60 large orchestral works, numerous chamber music, ballet scenes and film music.