Hendrik Hofmeyr

Hendrik Hofmeyr (1957- ). South African composer.

Biography

Born Hendrik Pienaar Hofmeyr in Cape Town.

After completing a BMus in musicology as well as MMus in piano (under Laura Searle) (University of Cape Town, 1976–81), he continued his studies in Italy. He completed the corso superiore in piano at the Florence Conservatory where he was a student of Alessandro Specchi and in composition under Ivan Vandor at the Bologna conservatory, where he twice won the composition prize.

He returned to South Africa in 1992, to teach at the University of Stellenbosch and later at the University of Cape Town, becoming Professor and Head of Composition and Theory.

Contribution to South African Theatre, Film, Media and Performance

Besides his numerous longer works, chamber pieces, musical renderings of poems and other writings, Hofmeyr has written music for a Wim Wenders film, and by 2012 had composed music for 2 ballets and 6 operas - three of the operas based on South African texts. His works include:

Il principe Barbablù ("Bluebeard", 1986), a chamber opera in 1 act, with libretto by the composer. Premiered at the Stia Music Festival, Italy.
The Fall of the House of Usher (1987), a chamber opera with a libretto by the composer, after Edgar Allan Poe, for which he won the Nederburg Opera Prize that year.
The Land of Heart’s Desire (1989/1990), a one-act chamber opera in 1 act, with a libretto by the composer, after William Butler Yeats.
Lumukanda (1995), an opera in 3 acts, with libretto by the composer based on text by Credo Mutwa
Die Laaste Aand (2001), a chamber opera in 1 act, with a libretto by the composer based on the text by (C. Louis Leipoldt)
Saartjie (2010), a 20 minute opera with a libretto by Hofmeyr himself. The opera was expanded into a full-length opera in 2022 as Sara Baartman with a libretto by Fiona Zerbst.