We were deeply saddened to learn of the death of Wolfgang Rihm and can accept this loss only with great pain.
Few people succeed in combining exorbitant achievement and knowledge with so much human affection and mischievous humor.
Wolfgang Rihm was associated with the ZKM from 1990 to 1993 as a musical advisor and from February 2, 1998 to December 31, 2017 as a member of the Board of Trustees. He was a vehement advocate of the necessity of musical research and development at the ZKM and his advice was gladly followed.
It was a privilege to be able to follow such a wise, competent and generous advisor.
With the composition commission for "Etudes d'après Séraphin" for the opening of the hall construction in 1997 and the grandiose dance performance with the dancers of the Staatstheater and the artist roasalie in 2007, the ZKM was able to bring this grandiose, subtle, hysterical or thoughtful music to the public, in addition to numerous performances by Manfred Reichert's Ensemble 13 and at the festivals of the Quantensprünge series.
Wolfgang Rihm's services to music as a composer and advisor are impressive. In his unpretentious manner, you could stand next to him and not believe what a brilliant and knowledgeable mind he was. He has now passed away just as unpretentiously. The gap he leaves behind will make us realize what he was.