He studied with Wolfgang Fortner and Karlheinz Stockhausen, as a conductor with Francis Travis. Further studies in Parapsychology, later computer composition (IRCAM, France). His compositions since 1989 are diary-like parts of a continuous flow, distributed in polyphonic space („formal polyphony“). Among numerous awards and prices, Platz was composer in residence at the Villa Serbelloni (Rockefeller Foundation) and spent several months in Japan upon a grant by Japan Foundation. Platz taught and published in many european countries, the US, Mexico and Japan. He appeared or had his works performed in all the important festivals in Europe, including the Salzburg Festival. Platz has conducted more than 300 first performances by composers including Bussotti, Hosokawa, Huber, Kagel, Scelsi, Xenakis… He lives in Cologne and is currently principal guest conductor of Ensemble Alternance (Paris) and Musica d’Insieme (Milan). Since 2005 Platz is also member of the Bureau du directeur  of the electronic studio Centre Henri Pousseur  in Liège, Belgium. His CD with Ensemble Alternance (works of Mauro Lanza) was selected by the Academie Charles Cros, his first portrait CD of Toshio Hosokawa recieved the clef d’or as the best CD of the year 2009 in France. His writings on music cover several volumes; a book about contemporary technique of the violin (with Irvine Arditti) appeared in 2013. Since 2016, the piano manufacturer Steingraeber  has been building a Midi-Grandpiano with fixed transducers according to Platz’ indications. Platz is professor of composition and conducting contemporary ensemble-music at the University of Music, Würzburg, Germany.

ROBERT HP PLATZ, WUNDERBLOCK