Ortner, Martin (1955-Present)

Contra-guitarist, violist and vocalist from Waidhofen who attended the University of Music in Vienna and the Vienna Conservatory, and studied with Thomas Christian, Svanhit Eglisdottir and Siegfried Fuhrlinger.

Groups with whom he has worked include Bella Musica, Ensemble Wiener Facetten, Kaiserschrammeln, Spirit of Europe, the Vienna Concert Society, the Vienna Symphony Orchestra, the Vienna Volksoper, Vindobonaschrammeln, Wiener Nonett and Wr. Haydnbarytontrio.

In June 1983, he and violinist Rainer Kuchl participated in a series of concerts that included “Concerto No. 1 for Viola and Orchestra in D major” by Karl Stamitz, “Overture in D major” and “Paukenschlagsymphonie in G major” by Franz Joseph Haydn and “Sinfonia Concertante for Violin and Viola, K. 364” by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

He was one of several Vienna chamber musicians who took part in the Dobbiaco Confenza in July 1987. Their program comprised “Octet, D. 803” by Franz Schubert and “Quintet for Pianoforte, Clarinet, Violin, Viola and Cello” by Franz Schmidt.

In June 1989, he and contrabassist Anton Schachenhofer and baritone Stefan Tachev shared soloist duties in a concert at the Stadtfarrkirche. The ambitious presentation featured “Konzertarie for Baritone, Contrabass and Orchestra, K. 612” (“Per questa bella mano”) by Mozart, “Sinfonia Concertante for Contrabass and Orchestra” by Carl Ditters von Dittersdorf, “Symphony No. 7 in D major” by F.J. Haydn, “Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 36” by Ludwig van Beethoven and “Trauermusik for Viola and String Orchestra” by Paul Hindemith.

He played contra-guitar in the Grosser Saal at Kulturbuhne Ambach on 24^th July 2002 in a recital that included “Deutsche Tanze” by Franz Schubert and “Divertimento in D, K. 136 (K. 125a)” by Mozart.

On 30^th March 2004, he and other Vienna chamber players appeared at Stadttheater Wels where they performed Mozart’s “Clarinet Quintet in A major K. 581” and Beethoven’s “Septet in E flat major, Op. 20”.

Wolfgang Bankl and Ensemble Facetten offered up an eclectic recital at Heimat Feldkirch on 23^rd July 2009. Highlights included “Der Hydrant” by Gerhard Bronner, “Oh, es is gut” by Josef Lanner, “Schweres Blut” by Georg Danzer, “String Quintet No. 2 in C minor” by Mozart and “Zingarese” by F.J. Haydn.

On 8^th November 2011, the Vienna Symphony Orchestra and Eroica Trio interpreted Beethoven’s “Concerto for Violin, Cello and Piano in C major, Op. 56” (“Triple Concerto”) in Foellinger Great Hall at the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts. The concert concluded with Johannes Brahms’ “Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 73”.

Recordings on which Martin appears include: Ensemble Wiener Facetten/Martin Ortner Vol. 1; Ensemble Wiener Facetten & Martin Ortner vol. 2; Franz Schmidt: Quintett für Klavier, Klarinett, Violine, Viola und Violoncello A-Dur with Vienna chamber musicians; Kalman, Lehar, J.Strauss, Mozart, Donizetti, Offenbach, Leoncavallo: Arias from Die Zirkusprinzessin, Guiditta, Don Giovanni, Pagliacci et al with pianist Marialena Fernandez; Martin Ortner begleitet von den 15 Engeln seiner Kontragitarre (Raritat) with Alexandra Reinprecht and Staatsoper Wien; Martin Ortner singt Klassiker aus Operette und Oper begleitet von den 15 Engeln seiner Kontragitarre (Raritat) with Gerhard Bronner, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Christian Kolonovits, Mijou Kovacs, Fabio Luisi, Felix Mitterer, Roland Neuwirth, Georges Pretri, Heinrich Schiff and Ulf Schirmer; and, Schubert: Forellenquintett; Adagio und Rondo concertante with double bassist Brita Burgschwendter, pianist Jorg Demus, violinist Thomas Albertus Irnberger, and cellists Heidi Litschauer and Martin Stoss.

Sources:

Ortner, Martin (1955-Present)

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