Michael Riessler

Michael Riessler is a German clarinetist, composer, and arranger known for his genre-blurring work that dances between contemporary classical, jazz, and experimental music. With a career spanning decades, he’s built a reputation for reimagining classical traditions—like his *Bach in 1 Hour* project, which condenses the Baroque master’s essence into a compact, improvisation-fueled experience—while also crafting bold original works like *Apparatus* and *The Machine*. His collaborations range from avant-garde orchestras to global folk musicians, reflecting his curiosity for weaving diverse sounds into his compositions. Recent releases like *Tentations D’Abelard* and *Kagel: Zwei Akte…* highlight his knack for balancing cerebral concepts with playful spontaneity, often drawing inspiration from historical themes or pushing acoustic boundaries. Whether diving into Mauricio Kagel’s quirky postmodernism or exploring muddy, atmospheric textures in *Palude*, Riessler keeps listeners on their toes with a mix of precision and raw creativity.

Genres

Avant-garde

Experimental

Folk

Jazz

Contemporary Classical

Baroque

Improvisational

Related Artists

Louis Sclavis

Anouar Brahem

Jan Garbarek

Michel Portal

Joachim Kühn

Fred Frith

Max Richter

Carla Bley

Ólafur Arnalds

Ernst Reijseger

Kenny Wheeler

Sigur Rós

Latest Release

Bach in 1 Hour

Sabine Meyer•

Trio Di Clarone•

Michael Riessler•

Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach•

Clara Schumann•

Johann Sebastian Bach•

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Album - 17 Tracks - Released August 21, 2025