Dirk D’Ase (Austria - exploring Sweden)
The Austrian Composer Dirk D’Ase has studied composition with Luciano Berio, Friedrich Cerha and Krzysztof Penderecki.
His most important compositions include 7 Operas, 4 Solo Concertos, Orchestral Songs, Orchestral Music, 1 Symphony and Chamber Music.
He has been named Composer in Residence at the Musikverein Vienna, Composer Of The Year at Brussels Opera "La Monnaie" (Gerard Mortier), Composer in Residence for the Flanders Festival and the Conservatory of Music in Vienna. 2008 a CD with three solo concertos, performed by Sylvain Cambreling / Klanforum Wien, Ulf Schirmer / Wiener Concert Verein and Peter Burwik / ensemble XX. jahrhundert with recordings from the Vienna Musikverein and Vienna Konzerthaus was released by the Austrian Broadcast (ORF) and VMS Musical Treasures.
2008 the Bregenz Festival dedicated a portrait concert to the composer, which also will be released on CD.
D’Ases music was performed among others by Münchner Rundfunkorchester, Klangforum Wien, Radio Symphonieorchester Wien, Janacek Philharmonie, Radio Symphonieorchester Bratislava, Hugo Wolf Quartett and Ensemble Kontrapunkte, commissioned by Vienna Musikverein and Vienna Konzerthaus, Bregenz Festival, Klangforum Vienna, Hugo Wolf Quartet, Brussels Opera, Ulmer Theater, Neue Oper Wien, Wiener Concert-Verein and The Cultural Capitol of Europe, Antwerp'93. For his Cello Concerto, which has been performed at the Bregenz Festival, he was granted the scholarship of the Vienna Symphonic Orchestra. For the Wiener Mozartjahr 2006 Dirk D'Ase wrote his sixth full-length Opera "Joseph Herzog".
D'Ase travelled extensively in the southern part of Africa and subsequently wrote a thesis on South-East African traditional music. His travels and research in Africa have deeply influenced his approach to composition.
www.dirkdase.com