He deserted a second time and made his way to the west of Austria, where he lived in the mountains for several months to avoid capture by the Allied forces, until he was eventually able to return to Vienna[4] in November 1945.

[1][3] Simultaneously, he studied musicology, German culture and language, and philosophy at the University of Vienna[1][5] His dissertation there, on the Turandot topic in music, was completed in 1954.

[6] In 1958 Cerha founded the ensemble Die Reihe [de] together with Kurt Schwertsik, which was instrumental in spreading contemporary music in Austria.

In addition to composing, Cerha earned a reputation as an interpreter of the works of Alban Berg, Arnold Schoenberg, and Anton Webern.

[1] The complete three-act opera was premiered by Pierre Boulez in Paris Opéra on 24 February 1979,[3][7] and directed by Patrice Chéreau.