"We are stunned and deeply shocked by this sudden and tragic loss," Mr. Brenner's company said in an official release. "It is difficult to believe that the man whose unique spirit infused the entire organization with a sense of vibrant creativity is no longer with us. His life's work, and the focus of his unfailing attention and inexhaustible energy, was the promotion of international live entertainment on the very highest level."

Mr. Brenner founded BB Promotions in 1987. The company produced a wide array of entertainments through Germany and beyond, including concerts by Bruce Springsteen, Coldplay and Sting; and tours featuring Rudolf Nureyev and Mikhail Baryshnikov (under the title Stars of Russian Ballet), Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and Hubbard Street Dance Chicago." He also produced sit-down productions of crowd-pleasing and often long-running musicals such as Grease, Saturday Night Fever, West Side Story, Chicago, Stomp, Hairspray, Cats and We Will Rock You, a jukebox musical featuring the songbook of Queen.

In London, he was the producer of Rent Remixed, a revised version of the Jonathan Larson musical, in 2007.

Roswitha Brenner and her children will now take the helm at BB Promotion, together with all the members of the BB team. All BB shows and performances that are currently planned will go forward.