Márton Illés
- Early musical training – piano, composition, percussion (Kodály-institutes, Györ/Hungary)
- Piano studies – guest semester at the University of music Zurich, Hadassa Schwimmer (1993); 1994 – 2001 – Music Academy Basel, László Gyimesi (1994-2001);
guest semester with Karl-Heinz Kämmerling in Hannover (2001) - Composition studies – Music Academy Basel, Detlev Müller-Siemens (1997 – 2001) ; University of Music Karlsruhe, Wolfgang Rihm (2001-2005)
- Music theory studies – University of Music Karlsruhe, Michael Reudenbach (2003 – 2005)
- Lecturer for music theory: University of Music Karlsruhe (2005 – 2018), for composition: University of Music Würzburg (2011-2013), University of Music Mannheim (2019)
- since 2006 published by Breitkopf & Härtel
- Christoph and Stephan Kaske Prize, Munich/Germany (2005)
- Composers Prize of the Ernst von Siemens Music Foundation, Munich/Germany (2008)
- Schneider-Schott Music Prize, Mainz/Germany (2008)
- Paul-Hindemith-Prize of the Schleswig Holstein Music Festival/Germany (2008)
- Rome prize, annual residency at the German Academy Villa Massimo, Rome (2009)
- Annual residency at the International Villa Concordia Bamberg/Germany (2011)
- Residency at the New York based Civitella Ranieri Foundation, Umbria/Italy (2012)
- Prize of the SWR-Symphony Orchestra (Donaueschingen Music Festival 2017)
- Artists residency in the Cité des Arts Paris (2021/2022)
2023
“Lég-szín-tér” for Orchestra, Berliner Philharmoniker/Kirill Petrenko, Berliner Philharmonie, Berliner Festspiele, Musica Viva München – premiere
“Sírt-tér” for Violoncello and Orchestra, Nicolas Altstaedt Violoncello/Münchener Kammerorchester/Bas Wiegers, Prinzregententheater München – premiere
“Chorrajzok” for 24 voices after poem fragments by Árpád Tóth, SWR Vokalensemble/Yuval Weinberg, Ludwigsburger Schloßfestspiele, Teatro alla Scala Milano (Milano Musica), Cité de la Musique Paris (ManiFeste) – premiere
“Húr-tér III” for String quartet, Quatuor Diotima, Wittener Tage für Neue Kammermusik – premiere
“Én-kör IV.” for Violin Solo, Joseph Puglia, Gaudeamus Music Week – premiere
Further performances: Tokyo Opera City, Aichi University of Arts Nagoya, RAI Nuovamusica Torino, Milano Musica, Theaterhaus Stuttgart, ManiFeste Paris, Klangforum Heidelberg, Das Neue Ensemble Hannover, November Music S’Hertogenbosch
2022“Four Watercolors” for Piano quartet, Ensemble Flex, Sprengel Museum Hannover – premiere
“Psychogramm VI „Szorongós“ for Double bass, Uli Fussenegger, Sonus Foundation Budapest – UA
“Psychogramm VII „Perlekedős“ for Guitar, Klara Tomljanovic, IMAGO Ljubljana – UA
“Négy Tárgy” for Piano, ARD-Music Competition, Semifinale, Prinzregententheater München – UA
“E halk tájt…” for three Voices and three Clarinets after a poem by Árpád Tóth, Klangforum Heidelberg/Walter Nußbaum – UA
Further performances: Philharmonie Berlin, GNM Mannheim, Le Vivier Montreal, BMC Budapest, Ruhrtriennale Essen, Unerhörte Musik Berlin, New Music Forum Ljubljana2021
“Tér-szín-tér” for Orchestra, Gürzenich Orchester Köln/F.-X. Roth, Cologne Philharmonie – live stream UA
“Hang-tér” for 5 Voices, Schola Heidelberg/Walter Nußbaum, BASF Biennale Ludwigshafen – UA
“Forajzok” for Ensemble, Klangforum Wien/Bas Wiegers, Donaueschinger Musiktage – UA
“3 SkEtches” for Ensemble and Live-Elektronik, Ensemble Experimental/Detlef Heusinger, 50-Jahre Experimentalstudio, E-Werk Freiburg – UA
Further performances: Ludwigsburger Schloßfestspiele, Lucerne Festival, Konzerthaus Wien, Konzerthaus Freiburg, Philharmonie Essen, Philharmonie Berlin,2020
“Vont-tér” for violin and orchestera, WDR Musik der Zeit, WDR-Symphonieorchester/Michael Wendeberg,
Patricia Kopatchinskaja – violin – premiere
“Réz-tér” for 8 trumpets, Monochrome Project – Marco Blaauw, Wittener Musiktage für Neue Kammermusik/Kunststation Sankt Peter Köln – premiere
“Én-kör III” for Violin and Violoncello, University of California Santa Barbara – Hahn Hall, San Francisco – Herbst Theatre Patricia Kopatchinskaja – violin, Jay Campbell – violoncello – premiere2019
Composer in Focus of the Staatsoper Stuttgart – “Víz-szín-tér” Staatsorchester Stuttgart/Cornelius Meister – premiere
„Drei Aquarelle for small ensemble“, Festival Présences, Paris Ensemble Court-Circuit/Jean Deroyer – premiere
„Húr-tér III“, Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler, Furiant Quartett – premiere
„Psychogramm IV “Durcáskodós“, SWR Jetztmusik, Séverine Ballon – violoncello – premiere
„Rajzok II“ Jetztmusik, Stuttgart SWR-Symphonieorchester/Pablo Rus Broseta, Márton Illés – piano
Masterclasses for composition in Milano and and Trieste
„Drei Aquarelle for clarinet, violin, violoncello and piano“ Festival d’automne à Paris, Trio Catch, Susanne Zapf
Birmingham BCMG Next – Workshop für Interpreten
“Ascolta-Rajzok” Wien Modern, Konzerthaus Wien, Ensemble Ascolta/Yalda Zamani
Further performances: Freistadt, Wiesbaden, Karlsruhe, Budapest, Rottenburg, Köln, Wien, Kyoto2018
“Fabrajzok“ for ensemble, Ensemble Musikfabrik/Elena Schwarz, WDR Köln – premiere
“Ljubljana Concerto Nr.6“ for string orchestra, Strings of the Slovenian Philharmonic Orchestra/Márton Illés – premiere
„Hang-Rajzok“ for 6 voices, Neue Vocalsolisten Stuttgart, Eclat Festival Stuttgart – premiere
„Ascolta-Rajzok“ Ensemble Ascolta/Michael Wendeberg Ultraschall-Festival Berlin – premiere
2018-19 „Klassen Arbeit“ Workshops for Students with the Ensemble Recherche Freiburg
“Rajzok I” für 24 Streicher, Schwere Reiter München, Münchener Kammerorchester/Clemens Schuldt
University of Cambridge, King’s College – lecture and workshop for composers and interpreters
Further performances: in New Orleans, Wien, Berlin, München, Budapest, Stuttgart, Schleswig Holstein Musikfestival, International Clarinet festival Györ, Freiburg, Opatija, Mannheim2017
„Ez-tér“ for large orchestra – Donaueschinger Musiktage, SWR-Symphonieorchester/Pablo Rus Broseta – premiere
Orchestra prize of the SWR-Symphonieorchester
“3.Quartett” – Beethovenfest Bonn, Asasello Quartett – premiere of the new version
“Bruckner Ornamente” for chamber choir and electronics, Kunstkraftwerk Leipzig – premiereLectures and workshops for composers at Novalis-Festival Zagreb, Hochschule für Musik Saar, Hochschule für Musik und Theater Hannover.
Further performances: Concertgebouw de Doelen Rotterdam, Künstlerhaus Salzburg, Alte Seilerei Bamberg, Southern Georgia University/Statesboro, University of North Carolina/Greensboro, Sprengel Museum Hannover, University of South Carolina/Columbia, Fuga Budapest, Théâtre de Nîmes, Spectrum New York, Resonanzraum Hamburg, Spoleto Festival Charleston, Manila Composers Lab, Novalis Festival Zagreb, Oper Köln
2016
„Tört-szín-tér“ for large orchestra– RAI Nuovamusica, Auditorio Arturo Toscanini Torino – Orchestra Sinfonica della RAI/Jonathan Webb
“3.Quartett” – Internationales Künstlerhaus Villa Concordia Bamberg, Asasello Quartett – premiere
“Drei Aquarelle für Streichtrio, Klavier und Bajan” – Akkordeonfest Hannover, Ensemble Flex/Elsbeth Moser – premiere
„Re-akvarell“ for clarinete and orchestra – Laeiszhalle Hamburg, Musikhalle Lübeck – NDR Symphonieorchester/Juraj Valcuha, Sabine Meyer – clarinet
Further performances: Staatstheater Mainz, Palace of arts Budapest, Konzerthaus Wien, Festival Mixtur Barcelona, Barbican Center London, Casa da Musica Porto, Museum Insel Hombroich, Festspielhaus Baden-Baden, Norfolk Chamber Musik Festival Yale, Klangspuren Festival Schwaz, Konzerthaus Stockholm2015
„Re-akvarell“ for clarinet and large orchestra – Lucerne Festival, SWR Sinfonieorchester Baden-Baden und Freiburg/François-Xavier Roth, Sabine Meyer – clarinet – premiere
„Psychogramm II – „Rettegős“ (Fearful) for solo clarinet – Wittener Tage für neue Kammermusik, Boglárka Pecze – clarinet – premiere
„Tört-Szín-Tér“ for large orchestra – Eclat Festival Stuttgart, Radio-Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart des SWR, Rupert Huber – premiere
„Három akvarell klarinétra“ (Three Watercolours for clarinet) – Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy Hochschulwettbewerb, Berlin, compulsory piece, Magdalena Faust – clarinet – premiere
„Újra Körök“ (Circles Again) for two trumpets and horn – Festival Stage, Teater Republique, Kopenhagen, Saar Berger – horn, Valentin Garvie, Sava Stoianov – trumpets (Ensemble Modern) – premiere
Scenic performance of „Torso V“ with the Asasello Quartet and MOUVOIR/Stephanie Hirsch in Berlin, Bonn, Darmstadt, Düsseldorf and Wiesbaden
Chamber music performances in Rome, Helsinki, Rotterdam, Tel-Aviv, Viitasaari, Amsterdam, Köln, Hitzacker, Badenweiler, Freiburg, Frankfurt, Essen a.o.
2014
Chamber music performances in Cairo, Cologne, Frankfurt, L’aquila, Lübeck,Viitasari, Zürich, a.o.
2013
„Rajzok III“ – Trio – Wittener Tage für neue Kammermusik, Trio Catch – premiere
„Rajzok IV“ – string quartet – Cheltenham Festival, Signum Quartet – premiere
„Psychogramm I“ „Jajgatós“ (Wailing) for solo viola – portrait concert, IgnM-Basel, Gare du Nord, Megumi Kasakawa – viola (Ensemble Modern), Asasello Quartett, Trio Catch
„Rajzok“ for 24 strings, RAI Nuovamusica 2013, Auditorium Arturo Toscanini, Orchestra della RAI/Marco Angius
2012
„Eufóriák III“ for five glockenspiel and a quarter tone glockenspiel – Europäische Kulturtage Karlsruhe, Isao Nakamura Sextett/Márton Illés – premiere
Artist residence at the Civitella Ranieri Center Umbria/Italy
„Tánc-Tér“ far ensemble – Alte Oper, Frankfurt, Ensemble Modern/Jean Deroyer – premiere
Abenteuer Neue Musik „Manische Linien“ – imparting new music at grammar schools, a pedagogic project in cooperation with the Deutscher Musikrat and the Donaueschinger Musiktage.
2011
Artists residence at the Villa Concordia Bamberg.
„Rajzok“ for 24 strings, Kölner Phiharmonie, Münchener Kammerorchester/Alexander Liebreich
“Rajzok” for 24 strings – Prinzregententheater München, Münchener Kammerorchester/Alexander Liebreich – premiere
Lectureship for composition at the University of Music Würzburg (2011-2013)
„Scene polidimensionali X „Vonalterek“ – Musica Strasbourg
Portrait-CD at te label Wergo, „Edition Zeitgenössische Musik“, Deutscher Musikrat. A cooperation of Deutscher Musikrat, the NDR Hamburg and the ZKM Karlsruhe.
Double portrait concert (Scene polidimensionali IX „Szintek“, Torso III und Scene polidimensionali XVI „…Körök“ für Ensemble and works of Ligeti) – Ensemble Modern/Franck Ollu
Rajzok II for piano and orchestra – Kölner Philharmonie, Bamberger Symphoniker/Jonathan Nott, Márton Illés – piano – premiere
2010
A three days composers portrait of the Konzertgesellschaft Basel at the Theater Basel.
“Scene polidimensionali XVII “Die Weisse Fürstin” – music theatre, Münchener Biennale, Carl-Orff-Saal, Gasteig München and at the Theater Kiel, Orchester des Theaters Kiel/Georg Fritzsch, Regie: Andrea Moses – premiere
“Torso III”, Tokio Summer Festival, Suntory Hall Tokio, Ensemble Nomad/Norio Sato
2009
„Torso III“ – Ultraschall Festival, Berlin – Ensemble Modern/Ilan Volkov
Rome Prize, an annual residence at the Deutsche Akademie Villa Massimo Rom
Beginning of the collaboration with the publisher Breitkopf & Härtel
„Torso III“ Cité des Arts Paris, Ensemble Intercontemporain/Susana Mälkki
„Scene polidimensionali XVI „…Körök“ – for ensemble – Konzerthaus Berlin, Ensemble Modern/Franck Ollu, Into Dubai – a project of Ensemble Modern and Siemens Arts Program – premiere
„Scene polidimensionali X „Vonalterek“, Festival Saison d’orchestre de Caen, Ensemble Accroche Note
Composer in residence and a chamber music coach at the Thüringische Sommerakademie Böhlen.
„Scene polidimensionali XVI „…Körök“ Auditorium, Rome, Ensemble Modern/Stefan Asbury
„Torso III“ Schleswig Holstein Musikfestival, NDR Hamburg, Ensemble Modern/François-Xavier Roth
“Eufóriák II” for piano – Beethoven Internationaler Klavierwettbewerb Bonn, compulsory piece – premiere
2008
Ernst von Siemens Composers prize
Paul Hindemith Prize of the Schleswig-Holstein Musikfestival
Schneider-Schott-Prize of the city of Mainz
„Post Torso“ for string orchestra – Gasteig München, Münchener Kammerorchester/Alexander Liebreich – premiere
Into Dubai… project of Ensemble Modern and Siemens Arts Program with a one month residence in Dubai (performances and lectures in Dubai at Dubai Art)
„Torso VI“ piano trio – „dedicated to Haydn“ Haydn Festspiele Eisenstadt, Haydn Trio Eisenstadt – premiere
Workshop concert with the Cuarteto Casals at the Heidelberger Frühling Musikfestival
Participant of the international composers workshop at the Experimentalstudio für akustische Kunst Freiburg
2007
„Emily Dickinsons Uhr“ music theatre after Jürgen Muck’s „Unabgelenkte Aufmerksamkeit“ – theatre music for 4 clarinets, mezzosoprano and electronics, Eclat-Festival Stuttgart, Experimentalstudio für akustische Kunst Freiburg, Thierry Bruehl – director, Friederike Kammer – actress, Katalin Polgár – mezzosoprano
„Torso III“ for ensemble – Wittener Tage für neue Kammermusik, Ensemble Modern/Lucas Vis – premiere
„Torso V“ – string quartet – Kasseler Musiktage, Keller Quartet – premiere
„Torso IV“ – piano quartet – Münchener Biennale, Gasteig München, moderation – Peter Ruzicka, Ensemble Triolog – premiere
2006
„Torso II“ for piano, Kasseler Musiktage, Markus Bellheim – premiere
„Scene Polidimensionali XIII „Gesztikus vonalak“ (gestic lines) for orchestra – Saalfeld, Thüringer Symphoniker/Mathias Husmann – premiere
„Scene polidimensionali XIV „Tördelt vonalak“ (broken lines) for ensemble – Festival „Hommage à Bartók“ of the Hungarian Radio Budapest, Componensemble Budapest/Zsolt Serei
„Torso polidimensionale“ for string quartet and piano – Stiftung Schloß Neuhardenberg, Athena Quartet, Márton Illés -piano / for György Kurtág’s 80th birthday – premiere
2005
Christoph und Stephan Kaske Prize, München
Scene polidimensionali X “Vonalterek“ (line spaces) – Heidelberger Frühling Musikfestival, Jörg Widmann – clarinet, Hanna Weinmeister – viola and Márton Illés – piano
Since 2005 lecturer for music theory at the University of Music Karlsruhe
2004-07
Music teacher at the Kinder-Musik-Schule in Karlsruhe
Portrait concert at the Freie Akademie der Künste in Hamburg.
Scene polidimensionali IX „Vonalmezök“ (Line Fields) – string quartet – Klangspuren-Festival Schwaz/Austria, Minguet Quartet – premiere
Participant at the 1st Internationale Composers Seminar of the Ensemble Modern with Helmut Lachenmann and Franck Ollu. First performance of Scene polidimensionali IX „Szintek b“, Hessischer Rundfunk, Ensemble
Modern/Alejo Perez und Alexander Adiarte.
2004
Scene polidimensionali VII „Szintek“ (Layers) – Berliner Philharmonie, Kammerensemble des Deutschen- und des Rundfunk Symphonieorchesters Berlin/Johannes Kalitzke – premiere
„Le kulli shäi´in“ – Andalusian-Arabic Elegy after a poem of Salih Abu Al Baqa’ Al Sharif Al Radey. Performances in the Cairo Opera House (premiere) and the Liederhalle Stuttgart, choir of the Cairo girls school (Schule der Borromäerinnen), orchestra of the Eberhard Ludwigs Gymnasium Stuttgart/Peter Bachofer
2003
A feature by the SWR
A radio feature by the SWR2
Scholarship of the Hoepfner Foundation Karlsruhe
2001 – 2005
Studies at the University of Music Karlsruhe with Wolfgang Rihm (composition), music theory (Michael Reudenbach).
2001 and 2002 Scholarship of the Heinrich Strobel Stiftung des Südwestrundfunks.
„Ballettmusik“ – Festival Europäischer Musikmonat, Basel, Ensemble Phoenix/Jürg Henneberger – premiere
1994–2001
Studies at the Musik-Akademie der Stadt Basel with László Gyimesi (piano, soloists diploma, 1998) and composition with Detlev Müller-Siemens
2nd Prize at the international piano competition „Premi Ciudad de Berga“, Spain
Winner of the piano competition „Concours Piano 80“ Switzerland
Scholarships of the Géza Anda Stiftung Zürich, Robert und Lina Thyll-Dürr Stiftung, Hans J. Rapp Stiftung, Basel/Switzerland and the Győr Kulturáért Alapítvány
Activita as a piano soloist, chamber musician and orchestra pianist (with the Sinfonieorchester Basel in various contemporary opera productions at the Theater Basel).
Participant of various masterclasses for piano and composition with Lazar Berman, Sándor Falvai, Karl-Heinz Kämmerling, György Sándor, György Kurtág und György Ligeti.
1993
Guest studies at the Musikhochschule Zürich with Hadassa Schwimmer (piano)
1. Prize at the piano competition „Rencontres Musicales de la Venoge“, Lausanne/Switzerland
„Sirató“ – for percussion quartet, premiered by the Győr Percussion Ensemble
1981 – 1994
– Initial musical training at various Kodály-schools in Györ/Hungary, receiving lessons in in piano, composition and percussion.
12.12.1975 Born in Budapest