Moritz Eggert did not have much to do with sport until the end of 2004, when he was asked whether he would like to write a “Football Oratorio” for the Ruhrtriennale 2005. He finished the composition in only five months, working from the beginning of March until the end of July. After its premiere at the Jahrhunderthalle Bochum, the piece was also made a part of the cultural program for the 2006 World Cup, with two performances at the Komische Oper Berlin. Along with the Oratorio came further football-works, such as Ballack, du geile Schnitte (roughly: “Ballack, you cool cat”) or Am Ball – Ein Fußballett, which in 2008 caused a furore with its conservative audience at the Vienna Opera Ball. Overnight, Eggert became the “football composer” and is today one of the most well-known and, as he himself says, “adventurous” contemporary composers. © Neos Music