“Music is not only in the here and now, but is spread out over before, now and later.” (Wolfgang Rihm)

We mourn the loss of Wolfgang Rihm. With him, a great spirit has left this world. A gifted creator, a consummate artist, a level-headed thinker, a powerful voice of the present and a generous person who was devoted to life. Our sympathy goes out to his family. What he created will remain.

Wolfgang Rihm has been an integral part of the history of Heidelberger Frühling since 2004. So many spaces have opened up with and through him, so many decisions have been linked to him, so many major events have been shaped by him. He was an outspoken advocate for the festival early on, even with pen and paper. And time and again he appeared at the Heidelberger Frühling, sometimes unexpectedly, to fill the hall with his fascinating presence. The deep, concentrated attention he paid to the works and words of his young colleagues – mostly pupils – his soulful “wanting to hear, understand and comprehend”, the appreciation with which he met the young musicians, with which he challenged and demanded of them, was extraordinary and touching.

Our connection to Wolfgang Rihm began when the Minguet Quartet performed his “Vier Studien zu einem Klarinettenquintett” at the first part of the Widmann Trilogy in 2004, a festival focus of his student Jörg Widmann. For the third part of the Widmann trilogy in 2006, he composed the trio “Das Namenlose” at Widmann's request for the Heidelberger Frühling in the setting of Schubert's “Der Hirt auf dem Felsen”. The premiere by Mojca Erdmann, Jörg Widmann and Axel Bauni became one of the most unforgettable events in the festival's history.

Since then, Wolfgang Rihm has become an important advisor and source of ideas. From 2007 to 2010, he accompanied the work of the “Frühling” with young composers by developing the idea of the “Heidelberger Atelier” together with Matthias Pintscher.

But he also became a friend. In 2012, the Heidelberger Frühling dedicated “A Celebration for Wolfgang Rihm” to him on his 60th birthday. In 2022, the Heidelberger Frühling Streichquartettfest focused on him and his quartet work. He was there. Despite all the health adversities. These four intense and impressive days with and around a wide-awake, perceptive and incredibly humorous Wolfgang Rihm were a gift whose uniqueness and greatness we were already aware of at the time.

To date, 35 of his works have been regularly performed at the Heidelberger Frühling. This list is constantly being added to. We will sorely miss his presence – and yet we will continue to have him around us through his music.

Thank you for everything, dear Wolfgang!