Grand Austrian State Prize for Furrer
The composer Beat Furrer, born in Schaffhausen in 1954, has been awarded the Grand Austrian State Prize. The award ceremony is expected to take place in Vienna in November.
In its statement, the Arts Senate justified its recommendation with Furrer's "unmistakable style, which is characterized by the human voice and the interrelationship of sound, language and visuals, based on sophisticated texts". Furrer is one of the most respected composers internationally today and his works are recognized by renowned concert institutions, festivals and opera houses.
Beat Furrer moved to Vienna in 1975, where he studied composition and conducting. In 1985 he founded Klangforum Wien, which he directed until 1992 and with which he has been associated as a conductor ever since. Furrer has been Professor of Composition at the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz since 1991.
His music theater works in particular (including The blind, Narcissus, desire or FAMA, Desert Book) have gained recognition. He is currently working on projects for the opera houses in Hamburg and Berlin.
