Walter Steffens (composer)

Walter Steffens (born 31 October 1934) is a German composer. He is noted for the diversity of his creative works, but has specialised in opera, such as Eli, as well as music inspired by paintings. Life The son of a bridge construction engineer, Steffens was born in Aachen-Burtscheid and grew up in Dortmund. His road to music was a bumpy one, especially since his father could not imagine a career in the fine arts as being a respectable way to earn a living. During the Second World War the Ruhrgebiet was being increasingly bombed, and at the age of eight, young Walter was sent, within the Kinderlandverschickung programme — the evacuation of children from war zones to the countryside — to the village of Wollenberg in Baden-Württemberg, and was thus separated from his parents and sister. By the end of the war, the 10-year-old had found a home with his grandparents in Bad Pyrmont. When the family was re-united again and the family’s piano, which had been stored safely in the Sauerland during the war, was returned to their home, the young boy was allowed to accompany his father while singing. Walter was given his first music lessons by a woman from the neighborhood. He received his basic