Role

:

Conductor

Birth

:

December 15, 1947 in Vienna, Austria

Period

:

Baroque

 

 

Classical

Genre

:

Choral

 

 

Opera

 

Erwin Ortner is a renowned Austrian conductor, choir director, and music educator. He was born on October 3, 1947, in St. Pölten, Austria. Ortner grew up in a musical family, and his father was a choir director. He began his musical education at an early age, learning to play the piano and the violin. Ortner later studied music at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna, where he specialized in choral conducting. Ortner's career as a conductor began in 1973 when he founded the Arnold Schoenberg Choir, which he directed for over 25 years. The choir quickly gained a reputation for excellence, and under Ortner's leadership, it became one of the most respected choral ensembles in the world. The Arnold Schoenberg Choir has performed with many of the world's leading orchestras, including the Vienna Philharmonic, the Berlin Philharmonic, and the London Symphony Orchestra. Ortner's work with the Arnold Schoenberg Choir has earned him numerous awards and accolades. In 1989, he was awarded the Austrian Cross of Honour for Science and Art, and in 1996, he received the Golden Medal of the City of Vienna. In 2001, he was awarded the Grand Decoration of Honour in Gold for Services to the Republic of Austria. In addition to his work with the Arnold Schoenberg Choir, Ortner has also conducted many other choral ensembles, including the Vienna Boys' Choir, the Bavarian Radio Choir, and the Swedish Radio Choir. He has also conducted many orchestras, including the Vienna Philharmonic, the Berlin Philharmonic, and the London Symphony Orchestra. Ortner is also a respected music educator, and he has taught at many institutions, including the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna, the Mozarteum University of Salzburg, and the University of Music and Performing Arts in Graz. He has also conducted masterclasses and workshops around the world, and he has been a guest lecturer at many universities and music schools. One of Ortner's most notable performances was his conducting of the Arnold Schoenberg Choir in a performance of Bach's Mass in B Minor at the Salzburg Festival in 1999. The performance was widely praised, and it was later released as a recording. Ortner's interpretation of the Mass in B Minor has been described as "revelatory" and "transcendent." Ortner has also conducted many other notable performances, including a performance of Mozart's Requiem with the Vienna Philharmonic at the Salzburg Festival in 2006. The performance was broadcast live on television and was later released as a recording. Ortner's interpretation of the Requiem has been praised for its clarity and emotional depth. In addition to his work as a conductor and music educator, Ortner has also been involved in many music organizations. He has served as the president of the International Federation for Choral Music and the Austrian Choral Association. He has also been a member of the board of directors of the Vienna Philharmonic and the Salzburg Festival. Ortner's contributions to classical music have been widely recognized, and he has received many awards and honors throughout his career. In addition to the awards mentioned above, he has also been awarded the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany, the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic, and the Order of the Lion of Finland. In conclusion, Erwin Ortner is a highly respected conductor, choir director, and music educator who has made significant contributions to classical music.

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