German composer Aribert Reimann, author of the opera Lear, dies. Teatro Real has lamented the loss of one of the "most important" composers of recent decades.
Lear, with musical direction by Asher Fisch and staging by Calixto Bieito, premiered at the Real on January 26. Lear, based on Shakespeare's tragedy, has become an essential title. "Its musical style fits perfectly with the somber theme of the text," says artistic director Joan Matabosch.