What is the best thing that I love about my work? I love the creative process itself – inventing musical ideas and the artistic challenge that comes with every new composition: Which direction will my musical idea take here? During the artistic creative process, surprising developments often arise in the details, even if I plan the overall structure of a work “architecturally” in advance. This tension between planning and unforeseen developments in the compositional material is always exciting.

What is my idea of happiness? I experience feelings of happiness in spiritual states. Such a spiritual state can occur when I immerse myself in my compositional work and get into the “flow”. It’s a great feeling, as if you temporarily have a close connection to the universe. But happiness also includes the very basic things in life: good health, no financial problems. You can also collect “nuggets of happiness” every day and consciously notice small moments of happiness: the chirping of a bird, the scent of a flower, experiencing nature on a walk, a good conversation with a friend. For me, happiness is therefore the sum of all these things: being able to live authentically within favourable
circumstances and being able to perceive and appreciate the small, beautiful things in everyday life.

What is my greatest fear? My greatest fear is that fate might force me to leave this world before I have said everything I want to say artistically.

What is the trait that I most deplore in myself? I am at peace with all my characteristics and accept them all because they are part of who I am – this includes both my strengths and weaknesses. Therefore, I do not reject my weaknesses, but I strive to work on them or compensate for them.

Which living persons in my profession do I most admire? I admire the Estonian composer Arvo Pärt. I find his music to be a great island of peace and tranquillity and, from an artistic point of view, a counterpoint to our world, which is becoming increasingly loud and hectic.

What is the thing that I dislike the most in my work? There is nothing I dislike about my artistic work itself. However, some professional circumstances in this context are not always ideal – for example, when I am under a lot of pressure. I do work to deadlines, but I don’t like working under pressure. A work needs the time it needs, especially if it is a larger work.

When and where was I the happiest, in my work? That’s not tied to specific times or places. I can compose anytime, anywhere, so the happiness that this activity brings me has always travelled with me, wherever I’ve been in my life so far.

If I could, what would I change about myself? Basically, I wouldn’t want to change anything about myself. But I see it as a lifelong challenge to bring myself “into balance” and stay in that balance – in many ways. To achieve this balance, you have to work on yourself continuously if you want to develop further.

What is my greatest achievement in work? For me, the greatest professional achievement is always completing a new composition, because each new composition represents artistic development.

Where would I most like to live? My home is within myself, so the external location is rather secondary. However, I appreciate lively places, and I adore water, so I have a preference for cities located on a river or by the sea.

What is my most treasured possession? I consider my personal and professional freedom and independence to be my most valuable possessions.

What is my most marked characteristic? When I am enthusiastic about something, I fight for it with dedication and strive to achieve what I believe is right for that cause. I am also good at enduring lean periods and accepting defeat, following the motto “I may have lost a battle, but not the war”. I then persistently stay on the ball.

What is my most inspirational location, in my city? My favourite place in Cologne is the promenade along the banks of the Rhine, where I enjoy going for walks and gathering my thoughts. The view of the wide, expansive river helps my own thoughts to flow.

What is my favorite place to eat and drink, in my city? I rarely go out, but I can recommend the legendary “Wartesaal am Dom” – an elegant restaurant with a bar. This space was originally the concourse of Cologne Central Station, located next to the cathedral, which was converted into an Art Nouveau waiting room in 1915. In 1983, a restaurant with a bar and event area was opened there. Apart from that, Cologne has many quaint and traditional pubs that are perfect for a beer tour featuring the famous “Kölsch beer”, where you can also enjoy tasty and simple traditional dishes in a cosy atmosphere. And here in Cologne, you are surrounded by open, friendly and communicative people everywhere you go.

What books influenced my life and how? My intensive reading of ancient Greek authors – especially Homer, Sappho, Sophocles, Euripides and Plato – has shaped my life and therefore also had a major influence on my compositional work. Because of my desire to transport ancient Greek literature – in its significance for Europe and with its messages to us that are still valid today – into the present through my music, I have created the special series “Greek Worlds”. The compositions in this series are also based on the texts of the ancient Greek authors Homer, Sappho, Sophocles and Euripides. I examine how these authors formulate their thoughts on the complexity of human nature and ask existential questions about love, suffering, death and the meaning of life. What answers did they find, and can their answers still be significant to us humans today? Roman authors also occupy space in my library, especially the Stoic Lucius Annaeus Seneca, who, with his realistic philosophical advice in his writings, is a real “life coach” for me.

You Only Die Once. What music would I listen on my last day? I would want to listen to the music of Johann Sebastian Bach. My life began with his music, which has had a lasting influence on me, and my life should end with his music.

Who is my hero or heroine in fiction? I would like to spontaneously name two heroes – a hero and a heroine. Firstly, Achilles, the greatest Greek warrior in the Trojan War Homer refers to in his anti-war epic “The Iliad”: as a complex personality with inner conflicts and contradictory characteristics, the hero Achilles embodies everything that constitutes “being human” and invites identification with him. The other is the young resistance fighter Antigone in Sophocles’ tragedy of the same name: Antigone buries her brother, who is considered a traitor, against the orders of King Creon, thereby obeying divine laws and defying state power, represented by Creon, who sentences her to death for her resistance. Antigone takes her own life and Creon is left broken at the end, as he realises the consequences of his actions.

Who are my heroes and heroines in real life? I would consider Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, with her courageous “Fridays for Future” movement, to be a heroine, because I believe climate protection is one of the most important issues of our time. Or Nobel Prize winner Malala Yousafzai with her commitment to “education for children”, because good educational opportunities are essential for children to develop their talents and have a future with appropriate career opportunities. But apart from heroes who are in the public eye, there are also many “silent heroes” who are not in the spotlight and who courageously fight for a cause or are committed to a cause and thus make a big difference: “Doctors Without Borders” (“Médecins Sans Frontières”), for example, who work in war zones around the world, sometimes in life-threatening circumstances.

Which movie would I recommend to see once in a lifetime? I would recommend one of my personal favourite films: “As It Is in Heaven” (original title: Så som i himmelen), a Swedish musical drama from 2004 by Kay Pollak. This film is about a star conductor who returns to his small Swedish hometown after a heart attack, takes over a church choir there and is confronted with the life stories of the people in this small town: their deep human worries and needs unfold before him, and he is happy when he realises that with the help of music he can find a way into the hearts of these people. A psychologically well-thought-out film about the fundamental effect that music can have on people and their feelings.

What role play stories in my life and work? I have always enjoyed reading and read a lot – literary stories interest and inspire me, but not only fictional ones, also very real life stories. Stories also have a direct influence on my compositional work, because music can tell any story.

What do the words “You are the storyteller of your own life” to me? Every person has their own story – they experience highs and lows, they suffer strokes of fate. We humans all have that in common. My compositions therefore reflect my personal experiences and aim to build a communicative bridge to other people through art: I see music as a means of communication – and also as an artistic form of empathetic expression, an empathetic statement in an inner dialogue with the listener, whose heart I want to reach.

Who is my greatest fan, sponsor, partner in crime? I think all the people who listen to and appreciate my music are my fans, and those who work with me on specific projects are good artistic partners who change from project to project.

Which people or companies would I like to work with? In my life, I have always found that the right people and companies have come to me when the time was right. My “inner state” and the state of my artistic development have, so to speak, magnetically attracted external circumstances, in the sense of a completely natural development. Therefore, I am excited to see which people and companies will come to me in the future – I will let myself be surprised.

What project am I looking forward to work on? I am looking forward to continuing work on my opera, which is based on early Greek poetry – I compiled the libretto myself from fragments of texts by Sappho and other early Greek poets, translated into German. These texts deal with love and passion. In addition, I am sketching my 5th symphony, “Medea,” based on Euripides’ tragedy of the same name. I am also currently hoping that the premiere of my 4th symphony, “The Anger of Achilles” (in progress; based on Homer’s Iliad) for large orchestra can take place sometime in 2027.

Where can you see me or my work?
You can find audio samples of my music and videos on my YouTube channel
https://www.youtube.com/@margaretesorgrose
More information about my work and further links can be found on my website
https://margaretesorg-rose.com

What do the words “Passion Never Retires” mean to me? Passion for something is completely independent of age and even keeps people young at heart: the inner fire never goes out. As long as you remain mentally and physically healthy, you can do a lot and achieve a lot into old age.

How can you contact me?
You can find my contact details on my website:
https://margaretesorg-rose.com

YouTube channel:  https://www.youtube.com/@margaretesorgrose

Wikipedia article/Main article: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margarete_Sorg-Rose