He studied composition and conducting at the Academy of Music “Hanns Eisler” Berlin. After that he was a master student of composition at the Academy of Arts in Berlin. In 1984 he became music director of the Berliner Ensemble. He collaborated with theatre directors such as Heiner Müller, Christoph Schroth, Claus Peymann and Manfred Wekwerth. He also wrote a number of music for documentary filmmaker Volker Koepp. (Rainer Stelle)