Remembering Wolfgang Rihm

The Chicago Symphony Orchestra family joins the music world in mourning the loss of German composer Wolfgang Rihm. He died on July 27, 2024, at the age of 72.

Rihm was born on March 13, 1952, in Karlsruhe. The Orchestra has performed several of his works, including the U.S. premieres of Dämmerung, Time Chant and Sotto voce. Composed for and dedicated to Anne-Sophie Mutter, Rihm’s Time Chant was recorded by Mutter and the Orchestra, and the release on Deutsche Grammophon won the 1993 Grammy Award for Best Classical Performance–Instrumental Soloist(s) (with orchestra).

A complete list of Rihm’s works performed by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra is below.

March 4, 5, and 6, 1982, Orchestra Hall
RIHM Tutuguri II, Music after Artaud
Christoph von Dohnányi, conductor

March 31, April 1, 2, and 5, 1988, Orchestra Hall
RIHM Dämmerung (U.S. premiere)
Claudio Abbado, conductor

June 26, 1992, Ravinia Festival
RIHM Gesungene Zeit (Time Chant) (U.S. premiere)
Anne-Sophie Mutter, violin
James Levine, conductor
Berg’s Violin Concerto and Rihm’s Time Chant were recorded by Deutsche Grammophon at Medinah Temple on June 29 and 30, 1992. The recording won the 1993 Grammy Award for Best Classical Performance–Instrumental Soloist(s) (with orchestra).

September 30, October 1, 2, and 5, 1999, Orchestra Hall
RIHM Sotto voce (U.S. premiere)
Daniel Barenboim, conductor and piano

May 3, 5, and 8, 2007, Orchestra Hall
May 4, 2007, Overture Center for the Arts, Madison, Wisconsin
RIHM Das Lesen der Schrift, Four Pieces for Orchestra
Kent Nagano, conductor

Numerous tributes have been posted online, including Symphony, Yahoo and MSN, among others.

This article also appears here.