Born in
Dresden, Zimmermann was a member of the
Dresdner Kreuzchor from 1954 to 1962, when he completed the
Abitur. Directed by
Rudolf Mauersberger, Zimmermann was immersed in the works of
Johann Sebastian Bach and learned vocal expression, which became a focus of his own compositions. He wrote three
motets which were performed by the choir, including a "Vaterunserlied" in 1959. Education in the choir fostered a humanitarian attitude which he kept for life. He continued his music education at the
Hochschule für Musik Carl Maria von Weber, studying composition with
Johannes Paul Thilman and also voice and conducting. The works composed during these years include
Dramatische Impression für Violoncello und Klavier auf den Tod von J. F. Kennedy (Dramatic impression for cello and piano on the death of John F. Kennedy), composed in 1963,
Fünf Gesänge für Bariton und Kammerorchester (Wolfgang Borchert) (Five chants for baritone and chamber orchestra after
Wolfgang Borchert), written in 1964, and the opera
Weiße Rose based on a libretto by his brother and composed in 1967/68. The theme of the opera, which he composed as a student, is the
White Rose resistance movement of the siblings
Hans and
Sophie Scholl. From 1968, he studied at the
Academy of Arts, Berlin, with
Günter Kochan. In the same year he composed
Musik für Streicher (Music for strings), his first work including
twelve-tone technique and a new organisation of sound processes in levels ("flächig"). In 1970, Zimmermann became
dramaturge of the
Staatsoper Dresden. In 1978 he was appointed professor of composition at the Dresden Musikhochschule, where he had lectured from 1976. As a conductor, he was invited by major orchestras such as the
Berlin Philharmonic,
Vienna Symphony,
Staatskapelle Dresden,
Gewandhausorchester in Leipzig,
Orchestre de Radio France in Paris,
Tonhalle Orchestra in Zurich,
Concertgebouw Orchestra in Amsterdam,
Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra,
NDR Symphony Orchestra in Hamburg,
Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra,
Warsaw Philharmonic,
MDR Symphony Orchestra, and the
Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra. He also appeared as a guest conductor at opera houses in Bonn, Hamburg, Munich and Vienna. He organised productions of his operas in both
East and
West Germany, and arranged for leading papers to review them. In 1986, he founded the Dresdner Zentrum für zeitgenössische Musik (Dresden Center for Contemporary Music) as a research center and for concerts and festivals. He returned to his opera topic
Weiße Rose and wrote a condensed version for only two voices and ensemble on a text by Wolfgang Willaschek. It premiered at the
Opera Stabile, Hamburg, on 27 February 1986, and was staged often. Zimmermann was the
artistic director of the
Leipzig Opera. During this time, 27 premieres of new works were performed at the house, including several especially for the tricentenary of the opera house. Parts of Stockhausen's
Licht were premiered, also
Jörg Herchet's
nachtwache, staged by
Ruth Berghaus, and
Dieter Schnebel's
"Majakowskis Tod – Totentanz". The house received international attention, presenting Busoni's
Doktor Faust staged by
Willy Decker, and a cycle of Mozart's operas on librettos by da Ponte, staged by
John Dew, among others. From 2001 to 2003 he was general director of the
Deutsche Oper Berlin. Zimmermann directed the series
musica viva of contemporary music, run by the broadcaster
Bayerischer Rundfunk from 1997 to 2011. He invited notable composers and ensembles to concerts in Munich, many of which were recorded. In 2007/08, he initiated an additional ars musica viva festival, which presented leading radio orchestras and ensembles. The BMW Kompositionspreises, a composition prize for the series, was an award for many new works by young international composers. A total of 175 works were performed, with 161 compositions commissioned by musica viva, and presented in 180 broadcasts. Zimmermann received the broadcaster's Gold Medal for his work over 14 years. Zimmermann then directed the Europäisches Zentrum der Künste in Dresden-Hellerau (European centre of the arts in Dresden-
Hellerau), with a vision of a laboratory for contemporary art ("Labor für zeitgenössische Kunst"), including theatre, dance, architecture, art and media art. He retired from the position in 2008. Zimmermann died in Dresden two weeks after his 78th birthday. He had suffered from a long illness prior to his death. == Operas ==