Belgian composer Wim Henderickx passed away at the age of 60. Born in in Lierre, he studied at the Royal Conservatory of Antwerp, at the Royal Conservatory of The Hague and also at the IRCAM and in Darmstadt. He was a professor at the Antwerp and Amsterdam Conservatories.
His music was influenced by Bela Bartok, Iannis Xenakis and Olivier Messiaen and by ethnic music from non-Western cultures, with influences from Indian Classical Music and Eastern philosophies occupying a special place in his work.
He composed chamber music, orchestral music and operas. The composer had also recently composed an opera, The Convert – based on the book The Converted Heart by Stefan Hertmans – with a libretto by Krystian Lada, which premiered in May 2022 in Antwerp. The French premiere of the opera will take place in Rouen in May 2023.
