Supreme chamber music delivered with traditional Viennese elegant ensemble and overwhelming technique
Founder/Artistic Director: Ernst Ottensamer (Clarinet)
Wiener Virtuosen
Formed in 1995 by the core members of each section of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. The call was made by Ernst Ottensamer, the permanent principal clarinetist. His outstanding performances, backed up by his traditional Viennese style and high individual skill, quickly became a hot topic around the world. The basic formation is a string quartet with a contrabass and a woodwind quintet. From here, the organization flexibly accommodates all repertoires, from classical, romantic, and contemporary music, from octets to chamber music, symphonies to concertos.
◆ Members scheduled to come to Japan in 2014 (10 people) ◆
○ Violin Vn
Christoph Koncz
Thomas Kublböck Thomas Küblböck
○ Viola Va
Elmar Landerer
○ Cello Vc
Franz Bartolomey
○Contrabass Cb
Josef Niederhammer
○Flute Fl
Walter Auer
○Oboe Ob
Clemens Horak
○Clarinet Cl
Ernst Ottensamer
○ Bassoon Fg
Stepan Turnovsky
○Horn Hr
Wolfgang Vladar Wolfgang Vladar
Christoph Koncz, Vn (violin)
Born in 1987 in an Austrian musical family. Studied in Vienna and Salzburg, and since 2008 has been the leader violinist of the Vienna State Opera Orchestra and the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. He is the concertmaster and soloist of the Vervier Festival Chamber Orchestra, and has performed chamber music with many famous musicians. Member of Wien Virtuosen since 2010. He was also featured in the movie The Red Violin.
Thomas Küblböck (violin) Thomas Küblböck, Vn
At the age of 7, he started playing the violin at the Hernals Music School. Since 2001, he has been studying under Professor Josef Hell at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna. He has won numerous prizes, including the Prima La Musica Award and the 1st prize, in domestic and international competitions. He also received a frequent scholarship from the Prokop Foundation for the summer course of the Vienna Philharmonic at the Salzburg Festival. Since 2013, he has been the 1st violinist of the Vienna State Opera Orchestra.
Elmar Landerer (viola) Elmar Landerer, Va
Born 1974 in Salzburg (Austria). Studied violin under Vladimir Makowitz and Michael Schnitzler, and viola under Peter Ochsenhofer. In 1996, he joined the Vienna State Opera Orchestra and the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. He also performs various chamber music activities, being a member of the Belvedere Trio, the Steude String Quartet and the Wiener Virtuosen.
Franz Bartolomey (cello) Franz Bartolomey, Vc
Franz Bartolomei, who has been a member of the Vienna Philharmonic for three generations with his grandfather (clarinet) and father (violin), was born in Vienna in 1946 and grew up in Vienna. From the age of 6, he studied under Professor Ewald Winkler. Later, he studied at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna under professors such as Professor Richard Kroczak and Emanuel Bravets. As a soloist and chamber musician from a young age, he has made numerous concert tours both in Japan and overseas. He has won numerous awards, including the Casals Medal in Budapest in 1963, the Tchaikovsky Prize in Moscow in 1966, and the first prize in an international competition in Vienna in 1967. Since 1973, he has been the principal and solo cellist of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. He is also active as a member of the Wiener Solisten Ensemble, Wiener Solisten Trio and Wien Virtuosen. He has performed concertos with Bernstein, Levine, Barenboim, Previn and others at the Vienna Philharmonic Subscription Concert, Salzburg Mozart Week, Salzburg Festival, Vienna Arts Week, Lucerne International Music Week, etc. In chamber music, he has performed with Paul Gulda, Stephan Vlader, Helmut Deutsch, Gil Shaham, and Jesse Norman. He is also active as a master class instructor and has appeared on many television and radio shows. From TELARK, there is a recording of "R. Strauss / Symphonic Poem "Don Quixote"" by the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Previn.
Josef Niederhammer (double bass) Josef Niederhammer, Cb
Born in 1954 in Linz (Austria). Studied under Ludwig Streicher at the University of Music in Vienna. In 1977 he obtained a diploma with excellent grades, but even before that he was already active as a member of the Vienna Volksoper Symphony Orchestra and the Vienna Symphony Orchestra. After working with the Bamberg Symphony Orchestra, the Bavarian State Opera Orchestra, and the Munich Philharmonic, he returned to Vienna in 1991 as a professor at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna. He is active as a soloist and as a chamber musician.
Walter Auer (flute) Walter Auer, Fl
Born 1971 in Villach (Austria). Solo flutist of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. Studied under Andreas Blau at the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra Academy after studying at the Carintel State Conservatory and Salzburg Mozarteum. He also studied under Aurel Nicolet in Basel. In 2003, he became principal player of the Wiener Philharmoniker/Wiener Staatsoper after serving as principal player of the Dresden Philharmonic Orchestra and the North German Radio Philharmonic Orchestra. He has won numerous international competitions in Munich, Leoben, Cremona, and Bonn. As a soloist, chamber musician, and teacher, he continues to play an active role all over the world.
Clemens Horak , Ob
Born 1969 in Vienna. Started playing the recorder at the age of 9 at the Vienna Conservatory. In 1982, he entered the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna, and began playing the oboe in 1985, studying under Professor M. Kautsky at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna. In 1994, he obtained a diploma with excellent grades. From 1989 to 1998 he was a solo oboist of the Vienna Symphony Orchestra. In addition to being a member of Ensemble Kontrapunkt, he has participated in numerous chamber music groups. He is also active as a soloist, performing with the Vienna Symphony Orchestra, the Vienna Chamber Orchestra, and the Orchestra of the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna. Since 1998, he has been the 1st oboe player of the Vienna State Opera Orchestra, and in 2003 the principal player of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra.
Ernst Ottensamer (Clarinet) Ernst Ottensamer, Cl
Born 1955 in Wallern (Austria). Studied at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna and obtained a diploma with excellent grades. In 1979, he joined the Vienna State Opera Orchestra and the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. In 1983, he became the principal clarinetist of the orchestra. He presides over many chamber ensembles such as the Vienna Virtuoso and the Vienna Solisten Trio. As a soloist, he has performed Mozart and Weber under the direction of Zubin Mehta and Colin Davis, and is also active as a conductor. Released many CDs such as clarinet concerto and chamber music. Currently a professor at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna. He is also the leader of the Vienna Solisten Ensemble.
Stepan Turnovsky , Fg
Born 1959 in Prague (Czech Republic). Studied under Karl Ehrberger at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna and graduated with honors. In 1978, he joined the Vienna State Opera Orchestra and the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, and since 1985 has been the principal bassoonist of both orchestras. As a chamber musician, he is a member of the Vienna Woodwind Ensemble and the Vienna Octet, and is actively involved in concert tours and recordings around the world. Currently a professor at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna.
Wolfgang Vladar (horn) Wolfgang Vladar, Hr
Born in Vienna (Austria) in 1963 into a musical family. Studied at the University of Music in Vienna. After serving as principal horn player of the Vienna Volksoper Symphony Orchestra, he joined the Vienna State Opera Orchestra and the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra in 1994. He is also active in chamber music, has appeared as a guest player in well-known ensembles, and is active both in Japan and abroad as a member of the Vienna Wind Ensemble.