Rainer Kunad (24 October 1936, Chemnitz – 17 July 1995, Reutlingen) was a German conductor and composer, especially of opera. Life Kunad studied choir and ensemble conducting at the Dresden Conservatoire from 1955 to 1956 and then, until 1959, composition with Fidelio F. Finke and Ottmar Gerster at the Musikhochschule in Leipzig. From 1960 to 1974, he directed theatrical music at the Staatsschauspiel Dresden, and 1971 onward, he also worked at the Berlin State Opera. Kunad was a regular member of the Academy of the Arts of the GDR since 1974. In 1972, he received the Art Prize of the German Democratic Republic, the in 1973, and the National Prize of the German Democratic Republic in 1975. In 1985, he applied to the authorities for a dismissal from GDR citizenship, which was granted. He lived in West Germany from 1984 onward. He spent the last years of his life as a freelance artist in Tübingen. Kunad composed piano pieces, chamber and orchestral music and operas (among others, Bill Brook, according to a story by Wolfgang Borchert and Der Meister und Margarita after the novel by Mikhail Bulgakov). Works Operas Bill Brook (1959/60), premiered Dresden 1965 Das Schloss (1961/62) Old Fritz (1962/63, premiered Dresden 1965 Maître Pathelin oder Die Hammelkomödie (1968), premiered Dresden 1969 Sabellicus (1972/73, premiered Berlin 1974 Litauische Claviere (1974, premiered Dresden 1976 Der Eiertanz, premiered Bautzen 1975 Vincent (1975/76), premiered Dresden 1979 Amphitryon, premiered Berlin 1984) Der Meister und Margarita (1982/83), premiered 1986 Der Traum (1993), premiered Hagen 2000 Ballets Ich: Orpheus (1964/65) Wir aber nennen Liebe lebendigen Frieden (1970), premiered Dresden 1972 Münchhausen (1977/78), premiered Weimar and Kassel 1981 Symphonies Sinfonie 64 (1964) Sinfonie II (1966/67) Sinfonietta (1969), premiered Schwerin Concertos Piano Cncerto (1969), premiered Dresden 1971 Concerto for Harpsichord, Pianom Jonika, Celesta and Orchestra (1970) Concerto for Organ, two string orchestras and timpani (1971), premiered Dresden 1971 Orchestral Sinfonia variatione (1959) Pathelin-Portrait (1974) Divertimento (1968) Antiphonie (1971), premiered Frankfurt/Oder Quadrophonie (1973) Szène concertante (1975), premiered Dresden 1976 Chamber music: Aphorismen (1956/57) String Quartet No. 1 (1957) Konzertantes Klaviertrio (1958) Notturno for cello solo (1958) Grande Ouverture for two pianos Musik für Bläser (1965) Concerto per Archi (1966) String Quartet No. 2 (1967) Commedia 'Die Ehe' (1969) Pneumatika for akkordion (1971) Duomix (1973) Miniaturen for organ and percussion (1977/78) Mozartparaphrase Phantysy for organ Rimstinger Adventsmusik Sonatine for piano (1992) Vocal music Schattenland Ströme, Gesänge nach Gedichten von