Saturday, 20 May 2017
Kolarac Hall at 8 PM
THE CLARINOTTS
Andreas Ottensamer – Principal Clarinet, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
Daniel Ottensamer – Principal Clarinet, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
Ernst Ottensamer – Principal Clarinet, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
Christoph Traxler, Piano
The one-of-a-kind trio The Clarinotts consists of three foremost European clarinet players, first soloists of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra and Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra – who are also a family, father and two sons, Ernst, Daniel and Andreas Ottensamer. Founded in 2005, the ensemble aims to find new and exciting ways in which to bring the varied voices of the clarinet family to the fore. With an emphasis on the Viennese tradition of clarinet playing, the individual excellence of each player – all esteemed international soloists in their own right – is expressed in collective performances of the very highest quality. The Clarinotts regularly tour Europe and Asia, and appear as guests with many of the world’s most renowned orchestras and festivals.
In January 2016 they released their latest acclaimed Mercury Classics/Deutsche Grammophon album which they presented on a special concert in the Brahmssaal of Vienna’s Musikverein in April 2016.
The Clarinotts also gave a stunning performance during the interval feature of the Vienna Philharmonic New Year’s Concert in January 2016.
Programme
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)
Arias from operas Don Giovanni, Così fan tutte and Die Entführung aus dem Serail for two clarinets and basset horn
Amilcare Ponchielli (1834-1886)
Il Convegno, Op. 76, divertimento for two clarinets and piano
Allegro – Un poco meno mosso – Allegro risoluto
Andante – Andante sostenuto
Allegro – Allegretto scherzoso – Presto
Dmitri Shostakovich (1906-1975)
Pieces for two clarinets and piano
Georges Bizet (1838-1875) /ar. Schottstädt/
Carmen-Fantasy for two clarinets, basset horn and piano
Intermission
Béla Kovács (1937)
Hommage à Manuel de Falla for solo clarinet
Hungarian Folk Songs for clarinet and piano
Hello Mr. Gershwin for clarinet and piano
Trio for three clarinets
Luiz Bonfá (1922-2001)
La chanson d’Orphée (Manha Do Carnaval)
Franz Cibulka (1946-2016)
Broadway-Suite
ANDREAS OTTENSAMER
Principal Clarinet, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
Born in Vienna in 1989, Andreas Ottensamer received his first piano lessons at the age of four. Aged 10, he began studying the cello at the Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst in Vienna, before commencing lessons on the clarinet with Johann Hindler in 2003.
Gaining his first orchestral experience as a deputy in the Orchestra of the Vienna State Opera and the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, and as a member of the Gustav Mahler Jugendorchester, in 2009 Andreas interrupted his studies at Harvard University to become a scholar of the Orchestra Academy of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra. From July 2010 until February 2011, Andreas played as Principal Clarinettist with the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, before being appointed Principal Clarinet with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra in March 2011.
Andreas has been awarded First Prize in major competitions for clarinet, cello and piano, and performs regularly as a soloist and chamber musician in some of the world’s most prestigious venues. Chamber music collaborations include work with Murray Perahia, Leif Ove Andsnes, Leonidas Kavakos, Janine Jansen, Yo-Yo Ma and Miloš Karadaglić. Andreas is also co-Artistic Director of the Bürgenstock Festival, with pianist José Gallardo.
Andreas holds an exclusive recording partnership with Deutsche Grammophon/Mercury Classics – the first ever solo clarinetist to sign such a deal with the Yellow Label. He first two recordings have met with great critical acclaim: Portraits: The Clarinet Album (2013), with Yannick Nézet-Séguin and the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, and Brahms: The Hungarian Connection (2015) which won him the 2015 Echo Klassik Award for Instrumentalist of the Year.
On his latest release Andreas Ottensamer presents a dazzling selection of the clarinet’s early repertoire from 18th Century Mannheim, featuring duets with Albrecht Mayer and Emmanuel Pahud – two of the great wind soloists of our time and Ottensamer’s friends and colleagues at the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra. This is Andreas Ottensamer’s debut album on Decca Classics – the first clarinetist to sign exclusively to the label in its 89 year history.
www.andreasottensamer.com
DANIEL OTTENSAMER
Principal Clarinet, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
Daniel Ottensamer was born in Vienna in 1986, and studied at the Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst in Vienna with Johann Hindler and Martin Fröst. Since 2009, Daniel has been Principal Clarinet of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra and the Orchestra of the Vienna State Opera.
Daniel has been the recipient of numerous prizes and awards at prestigious international competitions, including the Carl Nielsen International Clarinet Competition (2009). He performs regularly as soloist with major orchestras across the globe, including the Salzburg Mozarteum Orchestra, the Munich Radio Orchestra, the NHK Symphony Orchestra and the Vienna Chamber Orchestra, under conductors such as Lorin Maazel, Adam Fischer and Gustavo Dudamel.
As a chamber musician Daniel has worked with such esteemed artists as Angelika Kirchschlager, Thomas Hampson and Julian Rachlin, and is also a member of “The Philharmonics” and the Baole Quintet.
In 2011, Daniel released a recording of sonatas by Johannes Brahms and Carl Maria von Weber with Austrian pianist Christoph Traxler, to much critical acclaim.
www.danielottensamer.com
www.thephilharmonics.com
www.baole-quintett.com
ERNST OTTENSAMER
Principal Clarinet, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
Born in Austria in 1955, Ernst Ottensamer studied the clarinet at the Unversität für Musik und darstellende Kunst in Vienna; he returned to his alma mater in 1986 to teach, and was made Professor in 2000. He began playing with the Orchestra of the Vienna State Opera in 1979, and was appointed Principal Clarinet of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra in 1983.
Ernst has founded numerous chamber ensembles (Wiener Virtuosen, Wiener Bläserensemble, Wiener Solisten Trio), and performed with the Alban Berg Quartett, the Artis Quartet and the Hugo Wolf Quartet. Other chamber music collaborations include with Sir Simon Rattle, Sir André Previn, Daniel Barenboim, Rudolf Buchbinder, Julian Rachlin, Mischa Maisky and Angelika Kirchschlarger, amongst others.
Ernst has performed as soloist with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, the Vienna Chamber Orchestra, the Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra, the Salzburg Mozarteum Orchestra, the Bruckner Orchester Linz and the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, under such notable conductors as Zubin Mehta, Yutaka Sado, and the late Sir Colin Davis.
Ernst Ottensamer has made numerous solo and chamber recordings.
CHRISTOPH TRAXLER
Pianist
Christoph Traxler is one of the most versatile Austrian artists. He commenced his piano instruction at the age of eight. From 1994 to 2002 he studied with Ranko Marković and Horst Matthaeus at the Anton Bruckner Conservatoire in Linz/Austria.
He gave his orchestral debut with Schumann’s A minor concerto in 2000 and moved to Vienna to study with Heinz Medjimorec and Stefan Arnold at the Vienna University of music and performing arts, where he also received his grand diploma in 2012 with highest honors.
Traxler is the winner of both, the Boesendorfer and the Herbert von Karajan scholarships. In addition he is the winner and laureate of numerous national and international competitions. In 2010 the Vienna Beethoven society chose him for a scholarship for one year.
Despite frequent solo recitals he also appears in chamber music performances (with members of the Vienna and Berlin Philharmonic, Hansjoerg Schellenberger, Ernst Ottensamer, Volkhard Steude, Franz Bartolomey and Walter Auer) and as a song accompanist (including Thomas Hampson, Bo Skovhus, Angelika Kirchschlager, Bernarda Fink and Adrian Eröd). Furthermore Christoph Traxler is engaged regularly as a soloist with orchestras like the Staatskapelle Halle, Vienna Chamber Orchestra, Vienna Chamber Philharmonics or Kaposvár Symphony Orchestra with conductors like Ralf Weikert, Manfred Honeck and Stefan Vladar. As member of the ensemble Philharmonix he has an Abonnement cycle in the big hall of the “Wiener Konzerthaus”.
Traxler has performed in many cities of Europe as well as in the United States, Asia and Africa and was part of several CD productions, radio and TV broadcasts. Furthermore he is teaching at the University for Music and Performing Arts in Vienna and is giving master classes in Austria, Japan, Marocco and the United States.
www.christophtraxler.com
www.thephilharmonics.com
