Sven Helbig

Sven Helbig (born in 1968) is a German composer, director and music producer.

Sven Helbig

Helbig is a composer for orchestra- and choir music. Beside this, he is active in the field of electronic music (Dark Ambient, Noise, Field Recordings), mostly combining it with classical instruments.

Biography

Helbig's first experience with music began with the clarinet, but he later added the guitar, piano and drums. He studied music in Dresden and taught drums at the Carl-Maria von Weber Musical Academy in Dresden from 1995 to 2008. In 2013 the label Deutsche Grammophon released his compositions for orchestra and piano quartet titled "Pocket Symphonies".

In 1996, Helbig and hornist Markus Rindt founded the Dresden Symphony Orchestra. The orchestra is specialized in new, symphonic music in unusual productions and was the first European symphony orchestra to exclusively perform contemporary music.[1] Helbig gave up his managing position in 2007 to focus on his own musical work, resulting in orchestral pieces, film music and electronic music compositions. Since 2016, Helbig is playing live with his Forrklang Quartet. The ensemble is individually formed to fit the need of his current concert program. In 2017 he toured Europe with his choir work I Eat the Sun and Drink the Rain. The production for choir, electronics and visuals has been staged at Milton Court Hall/London, Elbphilharmonie/Hamburg and Reina Sofia Hall/Madrid beside others. In recent years, the artist has delved into work as a director. He directed music videos, stage shows and theatrical multimedia events.[2] For example, he produced the High-rise Symphony on Dresden's 800th anniversary during which the orchestra's musicians sat on individual balconies of an old East German apartment building.

Helbig's versatility made him a much sought-after producer for crossover projects.

800th anniversary of Dresden, July 2006

Helbig has worked as a producer, composer and arranger with Rammstein, Pet Shop Boys, Snoop Dogg, Polarkreis 18, the Fauré Quartet, opera singer René Pape, pianist Olga Scheps and more.[3]

The composer's work builds on the tradition of the Gesamtkunstwerk (all-embracing art form). Often he takes responsibility for content, music and production at the same time.

Projects
  • 2004: Premiere of The Battleship Potemkin at London's Trafalgar Square
  • 2006: Production of the high-rise symphony at Dresden's 800th anniversary (director, light design, music)
  • 2006: The Mover Ballet, 250 solar panels danced to his music during the opening ceremony of the world's largest solar park in Arnheim
  • 2007: MTV Europe Music Awards (EMA) music for Snoop Dogg (arranger)
  • 2007: String quartet “Jenseits des Sees” (composer)
  • 2009: Music video “The Color Of Snow” - Polarkreis 18 (director)
  • 2009: Music video “Happy Go Lucky” - Polarkreis 18 (director)
  • 2011: Premier performance of the ballet The Most Incredible Thing in London at Sadler's Wells Theatre, music by Pet Shop Boys with orchestrations by Sven Helbig
  • 2014: A Man from the Future, work for orchestra, choir, speaker and electronics about the life of Alan Turing by Pet Shop Boys, premiered by BBC Proms at Royal Albert Hall, (orchestrations)

Discography
  • 2003: Album “Mein Herz brennt” - Torsten Rasch with René Pape and Katharina Thalbach, released by Deutsche Grammophon (producer)
  • 2004: Album “The Battleship Potemkin” - Pet Shop Boys (producer)
  • 2008: Album “The Color Of Snow” - Polarkreis 18 (orchestra arranger/producer)
  • 2009: Album “Liebe ist für alle da” - Rammstein (orchestra and choir arranger)
  • 2009: Album “Popsongs” - Fauré Quartett (arranger/producer) [4]
  • 2010: MTV Unplugged Sido (rapper) - (arranger/producer)
  • 2010: Album "Frei" - Polarkreis 18 (orchestra arranger/producer)
  • 2011: Album "The Most Incredible Thing" - Pet Shop Boys (orchestra arranger/producer) [5]
  • 2013: Album "Wagner Reloaded-Live in Leipzig" - Apocalyptica (orchestra arranger/producer/writer)
  • 2013: Album "Pocket Symphonies" - (composer)
  • 2016: Album "Pocket Smphonies Electronica" - (composer)
  • 2016: Album "I Eat the Sun and Drink the Rain" - with Vocalconsort Berlin and Kristjan Järvi (composer, lyrics)
  • 2018: EP "Tres Momentos" - piece for string orchestra and electronics with the Kammerorchester Berlin (composer)

Production Awards
  • 2004: ECHO Classical Music Award in the world premier recording category for “Mein Herz brennt” to Torsten Rasch
  • 2010: ECHO Classical Music Award in the classical music without borders category for “Popsongs” to the Fauré Quartett

References
  1. Dresden Symphony Orchestra website
  2. Crew United database
  3. Discography on Discogs
  4. Der Spiegel on Fauré Quartett and Helbig
  5. Sadler`s Wells Archived 10 August 2011 at the Wayback Machine
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