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Event series

October / November 2025

Helmut Lachenmann @ 90

Concerts, Symposium, Artist Talk|Program on the occasion the 90th birthday of the German composer

A man facing the viewer in the foreground, musicians in the background. Helmut Lachenmann

A man facing the viewer in the foreground, musicians in the background. Helmut Lachenmann

Helmut Lachenmann is one of the most influential contemporary German composers and gained international recognition for his reorientation of contemporary composition. Born in Stuttgart in 1935, he systematically expanded the scope of music with his innovative approaches. Helmut Lachenmann’s music is defined by his concept of “instrumental musique concrète,” where the generation of sound—and the physical actions behind it—carries as much weight as the resulting tones. He deconstructs traditional instruments to reveal noise, timbre, and resonance, turning every gesture into a compositional element. His compositions continue to be performed around the world. In 2008, he spent a year as Visiting Professor at the Department of Music of Harvard University, introducing musique concrète instrumentale to American students.

On the occasion of his 90th birthday, we celebrate Helmut Lachenmann and his extraordinary legacy with a mini-symposium, two concerts and a pre-concert featuring students from Boston-area conservatories. Composition students from New England gather at the Goethe-Institut Boston to study his work and discuss his concepts with their professors and invited guests. This culminates in an online Q&A with Helmut Lachenmann, who has generously volunteered his time and is looking forward to interacting with this new generation of composers. Note: this online conversation is not open to the public.

Events

  • Helmut Lachenmann @ 90

    Mini-Symposium | Six Presentations and a Discussion explore German composer Helmut Lachenmann's work and legacy

    • Goethe-Institut Boston, Boston, MA

    • English

    Details

  • Helmut Lachenmann @ 90

    New Music Concert | Sound Icon performs compositions by Helmut Lachenmann and his former students Pierluigi Billone and Marc André

    • Goethe-Institut Boston, Boston, MA

    Details

  • Helmut Lachenmann @ 90

    Pre-Concert | Performances of Lachenmann's works by students from Boston-area conservatories

    • Goethe-Institut Boston, Boston, MA

    Details

  • Helmut Lachenmann @ 90

    New Music Concert | Callithumpian Consort performs compositions by Helmut Lachenmann

    • Goethe-Institut Boston, Boston, MA

    Details