Bio

Beni Brachtel is a Munich-based composer, sound artist and music producer. His practice moves between electronic music, orchestral composition, theatre and sound installation. In his work, electronic sound generation often meets acoustic instruments and experimental forms of performance.

In 2024 he composed the orchestral suite “Monument eines unbekannten Menschen” (Monument of an Unknown Man) for Ersan Mondtag’s contribution to the German Pavilion at the Venice Biennale. Further works include commissions for the Bavarian State Opera, Schauspiel Köln and the Burgtheater Vienna. In 2025/26 the Haus der Kunst Munich presented his multichannel sound installation “ATTACK DECAY SUSTAIN”; from September 2027 his A/V multichannel installation “I’m sitting in a House of Echochambers” will be on view at Kunsthalle Lothringer 13 in Munich. He is currently writing “Uncharted Triptychon” with author Alexander Eisenach for the Staatstheater Kassel – an opera for large orchestra, choir, soloists and actors, to be performed alongside documenta 2027.

Selected

2024

Orchestral suite and 24-channel sound installation for Ersan Mondtag’s contribution to the German Pavilion, 60th Venice Biennale, recorded with the Münchner Symphoniker

2021–22

Initiator, curator and participant of the “SVS Collisions” residency in Canfranc, Spain – an exchange with particle physicists. Presented in 2022 at Muffatwerk Munich: 5 days, 4 venues, 30 artists.

2018–22

Four commissioned scores for Schauspiel Köln (director: Ersan Mondtag)

2016–19

Four commissions from the Bavarian State Opera (Noah, Moses, Eve & Adam, Catarsi), three of which he premiered as conductor

2019

“The Adventure of the Empty House” – sound installation and solo live performance across seven floors of the Deckelbau, with Der Greif and TUM

2017

Debut album “Panokorama” as Bartellow on ESP Institute, Los Angeles; tours in Japan and the US. Follow-up album “Noosphere” in 2023

2016

“Convergence”, multichannel installation in Le Corbusier’s Mill Owners’ Building, Ahmedabad

2011–17

Synthesizers/keyboards and production with Pollyester; tours in the US, Canada, Mexico and Europe

since 2007

Musicians’ residency Selbstversorgersound; label SVS Records since 2013