Ernst Ottensamer (†)

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 Kirchschlarge, 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.

He has made numerous solo and chamber recordings.

Ernst Ottensamer died in July 2017 at the age of 61 as a result of a heart attack.