The death has been announced of German composer Hans Werner Henze, whose prolific and wide-ranging compositional output included a wealth of operas and symphonies. He was 86.

Influential

Referred to by many critics as one of the most important and influential composers of the 20th century, his repertoire ranged from stage works and concertos to chamber works and a requiem.

His operas ranged from the 1950s Ein Landarzt (‘A Country Doctor’), based on a story by Franz Kafka, to ‘L'Upupa’, written in 2002 for which he also wrote the libretto.

Che

His left wing political sympathies led him to write the oratorio, ‘The Raft of the Medusa’ — dedicated to Cuban revolutionary Che Guevara as well as the choral symphony, ‘Sinfonia No 9’, based on Anna Seghers' novel ‘The Seventh Cross’, that reflected his antifascist convictions.

His left wing political sympathies led him to write the oratorio, ‘The Raft of the Medusa’ — dedicated to Cuban revolutionary Che Guevara4BR

Ragtimes

His friendship with Elgar Howarth led to him writing the highly evocative and entertaining ‘Ragtimes and Habaneras’ premièred and recorded by Grimethorpe Colliery Band under Howarth’s direction in 1975.