Long-time head of the Ruhr Piano Festival Ohnesorg dead
The long-time director of the renowned Ruhr Piano Festival, Prof. Franz Xaver Ohnesorg, has died. The 75-year-old died unexpectedly on Tuesday evening, the festival's spokesperson confirmed in Essen on Wednesday.
Ohnesorg, a cultural manager from Bavaria, had directed the festival for almost 30 years and made it a globally recognized institution. He announced his retirement at the end of the year.
To bid farewell to Ohnesorg, the piano festival had organized several large benefit concerts, which were moderated by Ohnesorg. At the last of these concerts on November 25, the well-known pianist Lang Lang and violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter, among others, were scheduled to perform in the Essen Philharmonie.
Despite his vast contributions to the music world, Prof. Ohnesorg's personal details were not publicly disclosed during his tenure as the head of the Ruhr Piano Festival. His love for music was evident in the way he transformed the festival into a globally recognized institution.
Source: www.dpa.com
