Heinz Holliger

The Profile

Heinz Holliger (born 1939) is a Swiss oboist, composer, and conductor. Celebrated as one of the instrument’s paramount virtuosos, he also forged a major career as a contemporary composer. He studied composition with Sándor Veress and Pierre Boulez and has written significant works including Scardanelli‑Zyklus, the opera Schneewittchen, and Romancendres.

Swiss oboist, composer, and conductor; born 1939 in Langenthal; studied composition with Sándor Veress and Pierre Boulez; winner of the 1959 Geneva International Music Competition; frequent collaborator with harpist Ursula Holliger; acclaimed interpreter of Baroque and contemporary repertoire; notable works include Scardanelli‑Zyklus, Romancendres, and the opera Schneewittchen.

A single, intense 5‑star review portrays Holliger’s Lieder Ohne Worte as demanding, unsettling, and deeply rewarding. It highlights pieces like Frühlingslied, Trema, and the piano cycle Elis for their stark emotional landscapes. The critic praises Holliger as both world-class oboist and refined contemporary composer.