Andreas Ottensamer in an interview

"The clarinet has a special status in the Viennese music scene."

Andreas Ottensamer is an Austrian clarinetist of international renown, belonging to a family of three solo clarinetists. He has held the position of principal clarinetist with the Berlin Philharmonic since March 2011.

Classicpoint.net: You first learned piano, started studying cello at age 10, and only switched to the clarinet at 12. Nine years later, you were already principal clarinetist of the Berlin Philharmonic. How is that possible?
That's the great advantage of growing up in a musical environment and unconsciously absorbing music from a very young age. Development can progress very quickly that way – but of course, there's no getting around hard work and discipline.

Your father was principal clarinetist with the Vienna Philharmonic, and your brother still is. What was it like during your childhood? Did you always practice at the same time and for the same amount of time as your brother?
No, everyone had their own rhythm – we both had many other interests we wanted to fit into our day, so there was always a lot going on at our house. Of course, we often got together to make music and, for example, played duets.

They belong to the younger generation in the Berlin Philharmonic. Are there age-spanning friendship groups within the orchestra?
The friendships are distributed very differently, regardless of age or other factors – just like in "real life".

You come from Austria and were born with a typical Viennese understanding of sound. How would you describe it?
I find it wonderful to have inherited such a strong sense of tradition. The clarinet has a special status in the Viennese music scene. The Viennese sound is characterized by a particularly soft, dark, and voluminous tone and also influences phrasing and musical interpretation, which, of course, is then developed individually.

Your mother is Hungarian. You also play a lot of Hungarian music. What do these roots mean to you?
I find Hungarian folk music incredibly interesting and exciting. The emotional and, above all, the melancholic side predominates in this music.
I was very happy to perform three times in Budapest this season and also to be able to enjoy the fantastic food.

The tabloids mainly and frequently write about your appearance. Does that ever bother you?
No – you can't control what's written there anyway.

You're a passionate footballer, play tennis and golf, and ski. Have you ever had sports injuries that forced you to take a break from your instrument?
Sport is the perfect balance to music for me. Luckily, I've never had any serious injuries. I played tennis and was skiing even before I started making music. The risk of injury is naturally much lower when you're in good physical condition than for someone who suddenly started taking up these sports overnight.

What are your goals and visions for the next 10 years?
I can't answer that; you never know what the future holds. I simply hope to be happy with what I do.

Interview by Florian Schär | Classicpoint.net | June 1, 2018
© Photo: Katja Ruge / Decca

Next concerts

June 28, 2026 - Solsberg Festival Concert 4: Chamber Music
September 30, 2026 - Julia Hagen plays Britten
October 1, 2026 - Julia Hagen plays Britten
October 2, 2026 - argovia philharmonic presents Musikkollegium Winterthur