He Left the Berlin Philharmonic to Find His Voice. He Found a World Stage.
After 14 years playing viola in the Berlin Philharmonic, Brett Dean craved uncertainty. He had been creating his own music since shortly after he joined the orchestra in 1985, first improvising in underground Berlin clubs, then writing for classical ensembles. By 1999, he was itching to compose full time. But his wife, the painter Heather…