Ernst Ottensamer

Ernst Ottensamer is an Austrian clarinetist. He attended the University for Music and Performing Arts in Vienna, where he returned in 1986 to teach, and became professor there in 2000. In 1979, he began playing with the Vienna State Opera, and became principal clarinetist with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra in 1983. He has formed several chamber ensembles, including the Vienna Virtuosos, the Vienna Wind Ensemble, and the Vienna Soloists Trio, as well as a clarinet trio with his sons, Daniel Ottensamer and Andreas Ottensamer, known as the Clarinotts. Ottensamer has also collaborated with the Alban Berg Quartet, the Artis Quartet, and the Hugo Wolf Quartet, and performed in other chamber performances with Simon Rattle, André Previn, Daniel Barenboim, Rudolf Buchbinder, and Mischa Maisky. He has recorded many clarinet concertos on Naxos and Decca.