Life
Born in Luxembourg City on 22 October 1965, Georges Lentz grew up in the Luxembourg town of Echternach. He later studied at the Paris Conservatoire (1982–1986) and the Musikhochschule Hannover (1986–1990). In 1989, he began working on a cycle of compositions under the name "Caeli enarrant...". Georges Lentz's works express his fascination with astronomy as well as his love for the Australian Outback and Aboriginal art, and reflect his spiritual and existential beliefs, questions and doubts. His music is being recognised increasingly around the world, with performances at the Berlin Philharmonie, Konzerthaus Vienna, Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Wigmore Hall London, Carnegie Hall New York, Kennedy Center Washington, Suntory Hall Tokyo, Sydney Opera House. His orchestral work Guyuhmgan, from part VII of this cycle (Mysterium), was the foremost recommended work at UNESCO's 2002 International Rostrum of Composers in Paris. His latest compositions include a work for viola, orchestra and electronics called Monh written for German viola soloist Tabea Zimmermann, as well as Ingwe for solo electric guitar, written for the young Australian guitarist Zane Banks.
Being given to self-doubt and reclusiveness, Georges Lentz rarely publishes new works and rarely accepts commissions. He is said to retire to an abbey or the Australian desert to find inspiration and compose, and only very rarely gives interviews. Lentz didn't attend the 2009 APRA Classical Music Awards ceremony at the Sydney Opera House to accept that year's top prize for Best Composition by an Australian Composer, instead sending guitarist friend Zane Banks to pick up the award and read out his acceptance speech (September 21, 2009). A 40-minute documentary about the birth of Ingwe which appeared on YouTube in May 2010 shows Lentz for a total of about 30 seconds.
In the 2012-2013 season, Georges Lentz will be in residence at the International Artists' Residence Villa Concordia in Bamberg, Germany and will collaborate with the Bamberger Symphoniker.
Georges Lentz's music is published by Universal Edition, Vienna.
Read more about this topic: Georges Lentz
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