Siemens Music Foundation supports the Basel Symphony Orchestra
The Basel Symphony Orchestra (SOB) has been awarded one of the Ernst von Siemens sponsorship prizes of 50,000 euros for commissioned compositions by Christobal Halffter, Georg Friedrich Haas and Dieter Ammann.
The Ernst von Siemens Music Prize, endowed with 250,000 euros, has been awarded to the Danish composer Per Nørgård. The board of trustees praised him as one of the most original composers in the North, whose work "is of unique importance far beyond Scandinavian borders".
After a serious illness, Christobal Halffter began composing a concerto for double bass trio and orchestra. Halffter has a close personal relationship with Basel. Paul Sacher conducted some of his compositions. The collection of his works is now in the Foundation. Georg Friedrich Haas is writing a trombone concerto and Dieter Ammann has been commissioned to write a new viola concerto for Nils Mönkemeyer.
The Ernst von Siemens Music Foundation (EvS) has been awarding a music prize and prizes to promote contemporary music projects worldwide every year since 1973.
