Holliger awarded the Alban Berg Ring
The oboist and composer Heinz Holliger is the second recipient of the Alban Berg Ring, which is awarded by the Berg Foundation. He was nominated by his predecessor Friedrich Cerha.
The ring is awarded for life. The first recipient was Friedrich Cerha, who appointed Holliger as the next recipient before his death. A soundtrack with music by Berg is cast into the ring. The Alban Berg Foundation was established by Helene Berg in 1968 to preserve the memory and works of Alban Berg.
Heinz Holliger was born in Langenthal in 1939 and studied oboe and composition at the Bern Conservatory. From 1958, he continued his studies in Paris with Yvonne Lefébure (piano) and Pierre Pierlot (oboe). Between 1961 and 1963, he studied composition with Pierre Boulez at the Basel Academy of Music. After winning first prizes at international music competitions (Geneva 1959; ARD International Music Competition 1961), Holliger began an intensive international concert career as an oboist.
