Sven Helbig | |
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 Helbig in 2005 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | 1968 (age 55–56) Eisenhüttenstadt, East Germany |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) | |
| Years active | 1990s–present |
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| Website | svenhelbig |
Sven Helbig (born in 1968) is a German composer, director and music producer. He composes orchestral, chamber and choral music. Beside this, he is active in the field of electronic music (dark ambient, noise, field recordings). Helbig's versatility has made him a much sought-after producer for crossover projects; he has worked as a producer, composer and arranger with Rammstein, Pet Shop Boys, Snoop Dogg, the Fauré Quartet, cellist Jan Vogler, opera singer René Pape, pianist Olga Scheps and more.[1] Helbig's work builds on the tradition of the Gesamtkunstwerk (all-embracing art form) and he often takes responsibility for concept, music and production at the same time.
Helbig was born in 1968 and grew up in Eisenhüttenstadt, East Germany.[2] His first experience with music began with the clarinet, later he added guitar, piano and drums. 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.[3]
The self-taught composer's acclaimed debut album Pocket Symphonies has been released on the Deutsche Grammophon label. 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, North- and Southamerica 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.[4] 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.
Since 2017, Sven hosts his weekly radio show Schöne Töne on Berlin's Radio 1, celebrating music history and contemporary artists. In 2022 he was honored with the Art Award by the city of Dresden.[5]
The cover artwork he created in the style of 17th century vanitas painting for his album Skills (2022) was shown in a joint exhibition with Gerhard Richter, Tony Cragg and William Kentridge.[6]
