Wirth Stefan
(27. 04. 1975)
Biography
The pianist and composer Stefan Wirth is one of the most versatile musicians of his generation. As a pianist, he is particularly active in the field of contemporary music and performs as a permanent member of the Collegium Novum Zürich and the Ensemble Contrechamps (Geneva). He has worked together on various occasions with Heinz Holliger, including as a soloist with the Orchestra della Svizzera Italiana and within the framework of the Ittinger Pfingstkonzerte. Among his other activities in 2010, Wirth also celebrated his debut at London's Wigmore Hall together with the violinist Deborah Marchetti, and performed Beat Furrer's piano concert as the soloist at Warsaw Autumn. Wirth is also a member of the four-piano formation Gershwin Piano Quartet, with which he has performed at numerous important festivals (Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival, Festival de Musique de Menton, Mozarteum Brasileiro São Paolo, Rheingau Musik Festival, Klavier-Festival Ruhr, Menuhin Festival Gstaad et al.).
Stefan Wirth studied piano under the tutelage of Hadassa Schwimmer and Irwin Cage at Zurich Conservatory. His education continued in the USA at the New England Conservatory in Boston, and under Leonard Hokanson at Indiana University Bloomington, from where he graduated in 2001 with a master's degree in music. His education was further supplemented with master classes headed by Homero Francesch and Bruno Leonardo Gelber.
Wirth's compositional training took place primarily in the USA, where he studied under Michael Gandolfi, P.Q. Phan and others. In 1999, the Leonard Bernstein Fellowship allowed him to participate in the Tanglewood Summer Courses, where he worked with George Benjamin. He also studied under the tutelage of Oliver Knussen and Colin Matthews in 2000 at the Britten-Pears School in Aldeburgh, England. Between 2002 and 2006, Wirth premiered many of his own works during four tours, which he undertook in the Balkans. He was the subject of a composer portrait broadcast by Schweizer Radio DRS 2 in 2008, and the recipient of a sponsorship award offered by the City of Zurich.
Stefan Wirth has received commissions from Collegium Novum Zürich, Münchener Kammerorchester, Ensemble Makrokosmos, Ensemble ö, Ensemble Aequatuor, as well as from Westdeutschen Rundfunk for the Wittener Tage für neue Kammermusik, the Ruhr Triennale and Lucerne Festival. The Ensemble Contrechamps implemented a portrait concert of Wirth in 2011 (together with Stefano Gervanosi).
His works have twice been recorded under Grammont Séléction's 'Musiques Suisses' label, which unites the respective year's best Swiss premieres. Stefan Wirth has additionally worked as pianist, composer and arranger for various music theatre productions together with such directors as Christoph Marthaler and Frank Castorf.
Stefan Wirth studied piano under the tutelage of Hadassa Schwimmer and Irwin Cage at Zurich Conservatory. His education continued in the USA at the New England Conservatory in Boston, and under Leonard Hokanson at Indiana University Bloomington, from where he graduated in 2001 with a master's degree in music. His education was further supplemented with master classes headed by Homero Francesch and Bruno Leonardo Gelber.
Wirth's compositional training took place primarily in the USA, where he studied under Michael Gandolfi, P.Q. Phan and others. In 1999, the Leonard Bernstein Fellowship allowed him to participate in the Tanglewood Summer Courses, where he worked with George Benjamin. He also studied under the tutelage of Oliver Knussen and Colin Matthews in 2000 at the Britten-Pears School in Aldeburgh, England. Between 2002 and 2006, Wirth premiered many of his own works during four tours, which he undertook in the Balkans. He was the subject of a composer portrait broadcast by Schweizer Radio DRS 2 in 2008, and the recipient of a sponsorship award offered by the City of Zurich.
Stefan Wirth has received commissions from Collegium Novum Zürich, Münchener Kammerorchester, Ensemble Makrokosmos, Ensemble ö, Ensemble Aequatuor, as well as from Westdeutschen Rundfunk for the Wittener Tage für neue Kammermusik, the Ruhr Triennale and Lucerne Festival. The Ensemble Contrechamps implemented a portrait concert of Wirth in 2011 (together with Stefano Gervanosi).
His works have twice been recorded under Grammont Séléction's 'Musiques Suisses' label, which unites the respective year's best Swiss premieres. Stefan Wirth has additionally worked as pianist, composer and arranger for various music theatre productions together with such directors as Christoph Marthaler and Frank Castorf.
Work list
Inde per immensum (2003)
for oboe and piano
Duration: 13' 00"
Manuscript
for oboe and piano
Duration: 13' 00"
Manuscript
5 Etüden (2004-2007)
for piano solo
Duration: 15' 00"
Manuscript
for piano solo
Duration: 15' 00"
Manuscript
Yhôll/Gennff (2005-2008)
for 2 flutes (alternating piccolo, alto and bass flutes), alto saxophone, piano and large ensemble (0.1.2(1.alt ebcl.alt cbcl)/1.1.1.1.0/2perc/hp/2vn.2va.2vc.1db)
Duration: 20' 00"
Manuscript
for 2 flutes (alternating piccolo, alto and bass flutes), alto saxophone, piano and large ensemble (0.1.2(1.alt ebcl.alt cbcl)/1.1.1.1.0/2perc/hp/2vn.2va.2vc.1db)
Duration: 20' 00"
Manuscript
GLiM (2006)
for violin, cello and piano
Duration: 6' 00"
Manuscript
for violin, cello and piano
Duration: 6' 00"
Manuscript
Merlin (2007)
for 3 singers, 6 speakers & 2 pianos
Duration: 14' 00"
Manuscript
for 3 singers, 6 speakers & 2 pianos
Duration: 14' 00"
Manuscript
Bläseroktett (2008)
for 2ob, 2cl, 2hn, 2bn
Duration: 12' 00"
Manuscript
for 2ob, 2cl, 2hn, 2bn
Duration: 12' 00"
Manuscript
Vitruvius Teutsch (2008)
for fl (pic), ob, cl, vn, va, vc, pf
Duration: 8' 00"
Manuscript
for fl (pic), ob, cl, vn, va, vc, pf
Duration: 8' 00"
Manuscript
Konjunktionen (2008)
for violin and piano
Duration: 9' 00"
Manuscript
for violin and piano
Duration: 9' 00"
Manuscript
Nihtes Blôz (2009)
for vocal ensemble (STTTBarB) and string orchestra (6.5.4.3.1)
Duration: 10' 00"
Manuscript
for vocal ensemble (STTTBarB) and string orchestra (6.5.4.3.1)
Duration: 10' 00"
Manuscript
Le cru et le cuit (2010)
for piano and ensemble (1.1.1.1/1.1.0.0/2perc/pf/2.2.1.1.1)
Duration: 11' 00"
Manuscript
for piano and ensemble (1.1.1.1/1.1.0.0/2perc/pf/2.2.1.1.1)
Duration: 11' 00"
Manuscript
von Enden fern (2010)
for soprano, oboe, violoncello, piano and orchestra (2.2.2.2/2.2.1.0/2perc/hp/str)
Duration: 7' 00"
Manuscript
for soprano, oboe, violoncello, piano and orchestra (2.2.2.2/2.2.1.0/2perc/hp/str)
Duration: 7' 00"
Manuscript
Standards (2010)
for 2 pianos and two 2 percussionists
Duration: 15' 00"
Manuscript
for 2 pianos and two 2 percussionists
Duration: 15' 00"
Manuscript
Birches (2011)
for alto saxophone, violoncello and piano
Duration: 15' 00"
Manuscript
for alto saxophone, violoncello and piano
Duration: 15' 00"
Manuscript
Enallagai (2012)
for ensemble (1.0.1.sx.1.1/0.0.0.0/2perc/hp.pf/2.1.2.1)
Duration: 9' 00"
Manuscript
for ensemble (1.0.1.sx.1.1/0.0.0.0/2perc/hp.pf/2.1.2.1)
Duration: 9' 00"
Manuscript
Lunules éléctriques (2012)
for violin and horn
Duration: 7' 00"
Manuscript
for violin and horn
Duration: 7' 00"
Manuscript
Faims II (2012)
for piano solo
Duration: 5' 00"
Manuscript
for piano solo
Duration: 5' 00"
Manuscript
Acedia (2012)
for accordion solo
Duration: 9' 00"
Manuscript
for accordion solo
Duration: 9' 00"
Manuscript
This glacial shore (2013)
for small ensemble
Duration: 14' 00"
Manuscript
for small ensemble
Duration: 14' 00"
Manuscript
Diskographie
Grammont Sélection 7 (Musiques Suisses Nr. MGB CTS-M 142, 2014)
Karlen, Ingrid
Keller, Simone
Nouvel Ensemble Contemporain NEC
Ensemble Phoenix Basel
Giger, Jannik: Contaminare (2013)
Wirth, Stefan: This glacial shore (2013)
Moser, Roland: Pierrot Soldat (2012)
Rosenberger, Katharina: Erzählung (2013)
Kelterborn, Rudolf: Sinfonie 5 in einem Satz "La Notte" (2011-2012)
Ammann, Dieter: unbalanced instability (2013)
Furrer, Beat: strane costellazioni (2013)
Moreau, Benoît: Encre et Trompette (2013)
Zimmerlin, Alfred: tiw - saw (1913)
Schuler, Denis: Ek Balam (2013)
Charrière, Caroline: Envol (2013)
Interpreten:
Wyttenbach, JürgKarlen, Ingrid
Keller, Simone
Nouvel Ensemble Contemporain NEC
Ensemble Phoenix Basel
Werke:
Haubensak, Edu: Pur (2004-2005)Giger, Jannik: Contaminare (2013)
Wirth, Stefan: This glacial shore (2013)
Moser, Roland: Pierrot Soldat (2012)
Rosenberger, Katharina: Erzählung (2013)
Kelterborn, Rudolf: Sinfonie 5 in einem Satz "La Notte" (2011-2012)
Ammann, Dieter: unbalanced instability (2013)
Furrer, Beat: strane costellazioni (2013)
Moreau, Benoît: Encre et Trompette (2013)
Zimmerlin, Alfred: tiw - saw (1913)
Schuler, Denis: Ek Balam (2013)
Charrière, Caroline: Envol (2013)
Info: www.fonoteca.ch
New horizons (GENUIN classics Nr. GEN 14315, 2013)
Kelterborn, Rudolf: Kammersonate in 3 Sätzen (2008)
Wirth, Stefan: Acedia (2012)
Mit weiteren Werken von: Bernhard Lang, Helena Winkelman
Interpreten:
Weiss, MarcusWerke:
Holliger, Heinz: Partita (1999)Kelterborn, Rudolf: Kammersonate in 3 Sätzen (2008)
Wirth, Stefan: Acedia (2012)
Mit weiteren Werken von: Bernhard Lang, Helena Winkelman
Info: www.fonoteca.ch
Grammont Sélection 4 (Grammont Porträt Nr. MGB CTS-M 130, 2011)
Marti, Cécile: AdoRatio (2009-2010)
Dayer, Xavier: Le désert, c'est ce qui ne finit pas de finir / L'océan, c'est ce qui finit de ne pas finir (2010)
Furrer-Münch, Franz: Andante (2009)
Hauser, Fritz: Schraffur (2008)
Winkelman, Helena: Chill't Horn und Quodli Beat (2010)
Pelzel, Michael: ...trois études-bagatelles... (2010)
Wirth, Stefan: Le cru et le cuit (2010)
Interpreten:
Brenner, AndreasWerke:
Mäder, Urban: Über Stock und Stein (2010)Marti, Cécile: AdoRatio (2009-2010)
Dayer, Xavier: Le désert, c'est ce qui ne finit pas de finir / L'océan, c'est ce qui finit de ne pas finir (2010)
Furrer-Münch, Franz: Andante (2009)
Hauser, Fritz: Schraffur (2008)
Winkelman, Helena: Chill't Horn und Quodli Beat (2010)
Pelzel, Michael: ...trois études-bagatelles... (2010)
Wirth, Stefan: Le cru et le cuit (2010)
Info: www.fonoteca.ch
Grammont Sélection 2 (Musiques Suisses Nr. MGB CTS-M 120, 2009)
Näf, Fritz
Henneberger, Jürg
Haag, Ivo
Soós, Adrienne
Monot, Pierre-Alain
Ziegler, Matthias
Furrer, Beat
Quatuor Sine Nomine
Ensemble Contrechamps
Klavierduo Adrienne Soós und Ivo Haag
Nouvel Ensemble Contemporain NEC
Ensemble Phoenix Basel
Furrer, Beat: Konzert für Klavier und Orchester (2007)
Kelterborn, Rudolf: Kammersinfonie 3 (2007)
Scartazzini, Andrea Lorenzo: Siegel (2007)
Schmucki, Annette: hagel und haut (2007-2008)
Roth, Michel: Pessoa (2008)
Knüsel, Alfred: inmitten der Fülle das Verschwinden als verbindendes Element (2008)
Frank, Patrick N.: Responsorium I-X (2008)
Wirth, Stefan: Yhôll/Gennff (2005-2008)
Interpreten:
Gubler, RicoNäf, Fritz
Henneberger, Jürg
Haag, Ivo
Soós, Adrienne
Monot, Pierre-Alain
Ziegler, Matthias
Furrer, Beat
Quatuor Sine Nomine
Ensemble Contrechamps
Klavierduo Adrienne Soós und Ivo Haag
Nouvel Ensemble Contemporain NEC
Ensemble Phoenix Basel
Werke:
Blank, William: Traces (2006)Furrer, Beat: Konzert für Klavier und Orchester (2007)
Kelterborn, Rudolf: Kammersinfonie 3 (2007)
Scartazzini, Andrea Lorenzo: Siegel (2007)
Schmucki, Annette: hagel und haut (2007-2008)
Roth, Michel: Pessoa (2008)
Knüsel, Alfred: inmitten der Fülle das Verschwinden als verbindendes Element (2008)
Frank, Patrick N.: Responsorium I-X (2008)
Wirth, Stefan: Yhôll/Gennff (2005-2008)
Info: www.fonoteca.ch
Bibliography
Hirsbrunner, Theo: Vor Indien im Meer. Multiple Materialprovenienzen in der Musik von Stafan Wirth, in: Dissonanz 112 (2010), S. 30-35 [Internet]
Ensembles