Max Richter to release eight-hour long album ‘SLEEP’

Max Richter has announced that his upcoming album ’SLEEP’ will be an eight-hour long album of classical music.

Described as “an eight-hour lullaby”, the premiere of ‘SLEEP’ will take place in Berlin this September between midnight and 8am. Richter has organised a set of beds for fans to rest in during the performance, with chairs firmly out of sight.

Speaking about the album and the event, Richter said: “It’s really an experiment to try and understand how we experience music in different states of consciousness.” The German-born British composer also said that his preparation for ‘SLEEP’ involved consulting neuroscientist David Eagleman. “Sleeping is one of the most important things we all do,” Richter said. “We spend a third of our lives asleep, and it’s always been one of my favourite things, ever since I was a child. … For me, ‘SLEEP’ is an attempt to see how that space when your conscious mind is on holiday can be a place for music to live.”

’SLEEP’ will be available in full (digitally) on 4th September via Deutsche Grammophon, with one-hour versions out on CD, vinyl and digital the same day. Watch a teaser trailer for ’SLEEP’ below and find out more about the project on Deutsche Grammophon’s website.