Helmut Lachenmann studied piano with Jürgen Uhde, theory and composition with Johann Nepomuk David from 1955 to 1958. This work has already been studied by Luigi No. musical personality of the young German composer.

From 1963 to 1965 he attended Karlheinz Stockhausen's classes for new music in Cologne. After an internship at the Electronic Studio in Ghent and first prize in the city of Munich in 1965, he taught at the Musikhochschule Stuttgart (1966-1970) and Ludwigsburg (1970-1976). He was then appointed professor of composition at Hanover (1976-1981) and at Stuttgart (1981-1999). In 2010, he is visiting professor at the Musikhochschule Basel.

Among the many invitations to give composition seminars are, Basel (1972-1973), Brazil, Toronto, Buenos Aires, Santiago de Chile, Tokyo, Acanthes, New York, Harvard…

The music of Helmut Lachenmann, which he calls "Klang Komposition" (the composition of sound), comes "both from an aesthetic purification and a deep rejection of any form of pre-codified order. Composed of squeaks, friction and screeches, it leads mainly to a reflection on sound and noise. "

He is an honorary doctor of the universities of Hanover, Dresden and Cologne and a member of the Academies of the Arts of Berlin, Hamburg, Leipzig, Mannheim, Munich and Brussels.

Among his many awards and honors include - among others - Ernst von Siemens Foundation Award (1997);Golden Lion of the Venice Biennale (2008);BBVA Foundation Music Prize (2011);Officer of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (2011);Hans Christian Andersen Award (2016)…

Sources : France musique et Ircam