Hans Werner Henze (1926 - 2012): Reverse Chronological Collection on Spotify

"Hans Werner Henze (1 July 1926 – 27 October 2012) was a German composer of prodigious output best known for 'his consistent cultivation of music for the theatre throughout his life'. His music is extremely varied in style, having been influenced by serialism, atonality, Stravinsky, Italian music, Arabic music and jazz, as well as traditional schools of German composition." - Wikipedia

Start with Nachtstücke und Arien if you like Strauss's Four Last Songs or Britten's Serenade for Tenor, Horn and Strings. Also recommended: Royal Winter Music, Symphony No. 8 (both based on Shakespeare), Undine, and the Auden Songs sung by Ian Bostridge. Henze's stripped-down chamber arrangement of Wagner's Wesendonck Lieder is included at the end of the playlist.

Get this collection in one Spotify playlist: Hans Werner Henze - Reverse Chronological Collection (481 tracks, total time: 36 hours).  Ctrl (CMD) + G to browse in album view. More links: song texts, work list on Wikipedia, AllMusic and Chester Novello; obituaries from Boulezian, Guardian, and Henze's publisher Schott Music.