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Helmut Lachenmann: The Beauty of Decay

Kate Molleson and Gillian Moore shine new light on the 'modern' music of the 20th century. This week, Gillian explores the remarkable musical aesthetics of Helmut Lachenmann.

Kate Molleson and Gillian Moore present 麻豆社 Radio 3's series exploring the pivotal 'modern' musical works of the 20th century, the groundbreaking composers who created them, and the radical cultural and artistic movements which gave rise to them. In this episode, Gillian explores the remarkable musical aesthetics of the Stuttgart-born composer Helmut Lachenmann, who celebrated his 90th birthday in November 2025.

On our way to a full performance of his piece Mouvement (鈥� vor der Erstarrung) which was first performed in 1984, we'll encounter the composer's personal brand of 'instrumental musique concr猫te' and discover the transformational impact on Lachenmann of his private studies with Luigi Nono. 'This music embodies a life of setting up and breaking down,' the composer writes of our featured work, 'it is a music of dead movements, practically the last convulsions [...]'

Produced by Sam Phillips
A Reduced Listening production for 麻豆社 Radio 3

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17 days left to listen

59 minutes

Last on

Sun 18 Jan 2026 21:00
麻豆社 Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Prince

    Purple Rain

    • Prince & The Revolution.
    • Warner Brothers.

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Symphony no. 5 in C minor op. 67 - I.

    Conductor: Sir Roger Norrington. Orchestra: Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra.
    • Symphony No. 5 in C minor op. 67 & Symphony No.6 in F Major op.68 "Pastorale".
    • H盲nssler Classic.

  • Helmut Lachenmann

    Accanto - Musik f眉r einen Klarinettisten mit Orchester

    Performer: Michele Marelli. Orchestra: Orchestra del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino. Conductor: Brad Lubman.
    • Clarinet Reloaded.
    • Universal Classics & Jazz.

  • Helmut Lachenmann

    Part I: Auf der Strasse Scherzo II - Stiulle Nacht

    Performer: SWR Vocal Ensemble, Stuttgart. Conductor: Sylvain Cambreling. Ensemble: Southwest German Radio Symphony Orchestra.
    • The Little Match Girl.
    • ECM Records.

  • Helmut Lachenmann

    Pression

    Performer: Walter Grimmer.
    • Allegro sostenuto / Pression / Dal niente / Int茅rieur I.
    • EMG Classical.

  • Luigi Nono

    Cori di Didone

    Choir: SWR Vocal Ensemble, Stuttgart. Conductor: Rupert Huber.
    • Nono: Cori Di Didone / Da Un Diario Italiano / Das Atmende Klarsein.
    • SWR.

  • Wolfgang Rihm

    Tutuguri - I. extract

    Performer: SWR Vocal Ensemble, Stuttgart. Conductor: Rupert Huber. Conductor: Fabrice Bollon. Choir: Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra.
    • Tutuguri.
    • H盲nssler Classic.

  • Salvatore Sciarrino

    Lo Spazio inverso

    Conductor: Kwam茅 Ryan. Ensemble: ensemble recherche.
    • Lo Spazio inverso.
    • Kairos.

  • Peter Ablinger

    Weiss / Weisslich

    Performer: Peter Ablinger.
    • Weiss / Weisslich.
    • Maria de Alvear World Edition.

  • Mireille Kyrou

    脡tude I

    Performer: Mireille Kyrou.
    • Traces One.
    • Recollection GRM.

  • Vinko Globokar

    Discours II

    Performer: Vinko Globokar.
    • Discours II / Sequenza V / Solo F眉r Melodie-Instrument Mit R眉ckkopplung / Consec.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.

  • Helmut Lachenmann

    Mouvement(-vor der Erstarrung) (1983/84)

    Ensemble: Ensemble Modern. Conductor: P茅ter E枚tv枚s.
    • Helmut Lachenmann: Schwankungen am Rand.
    • ECM.

  • William Basinski

    Disintergration Loops - dlp 1.1.5

    • The Disintegration Loops.
    • Temporary Residence Limited.

Broadcast

  • Sun 18 Jan 2026 21:00
    麻豆社 Radio 3