Salzburg Wind Philharmonic
Biography Salzburg Wind Philharmonic
The Salzburg Wind Philharmonic
has evolved from the former Bläserphilharmonie Mozarteum Salzburg, which was founded by Hansjörg Angerer as an orchestral formation of the Mozarteum University in 2002. Over the years many teachers, students as well as graduates of the university played in the ensemble. The aim in founding this orchestra was to perform original compositions as well as special symphonic wind arrangements in order to position this ensemble on an equal standing alongside classical symphony orchestras and traditional string formations. The intention was also to perform wind music at the highest level and thereby achieve an essential influence in the repertoire for symphonic winds.
These highly ambitious expectations were not only met but far surpassed, thanks not least to the typical sound aesthetic evolved by principal conductor Hansjörg Angerer in concerts as well as in significant recordings. Based on the achieved professionalism the time was then ripe for taking the orchestra in a new direction. The continuation of its high aspirations was no longer compatible with the orientation of the university, and so since the summer of 2022 this professional orchestral formation has taken on a new name and is now known as the Salzburg Wind Philharmonic, operating as an independent non-profit organization. This is also to avoid any kind of confusion with existing university formations. This limited company pursues non-profit purposes exclusively and directly for the promotion of art and culture.
Hansjörg Angerer
The principal conductor of the Salzburg Wind Philharmonic, Hansjörg Angerer, was born in Rattenberg, Tyrol and studied horn in Innsbruck and at the Mozarteum in Salzburg. Further he studied repertoire under Hermann Baumann and conducting under Edgar Seipenbusch.
Hansjörg Angerer played horn in the Innsbruck Symphony Orchestra, he later took over the horn classes at the conservatories of Tyrol and Vorarlberg. From 1988 Hansjörg Angerer was professor of horn at the Mozarteum University in Salzburg and additionally, from 2000, he had a professorship at the University of Music in Nuremberg.
He has also given guest performances with various orchestras, for instance, the Vienna Philharmonic, Vienna Chamber Orchestra, Munich Chamber Orchestra and the Camerata Salzburg, performed as soloist and chamber musician on the horn and the natural horn and gave concerts with Austrian and foreign orchestras and ensembles. A number of contemporary composers have written works for the versatile horn player. As soloist on the horn and the historic natural horn, Hansjörg Angerer has recorded several compact discs to great international acclaim. In 2006 Hansjörg Angerer made a sensational CD of Mozart’s Horn Concertos on the historic natural horn accompanied by the ensemble Salzburger Hofmusik directed by Wolfgang Brunner. This recording was awarded the “Pasticcio Prize” by ORF-Ö1, Austrian Radio.
Since the founding of the Salzburg Wind Philharmonic – known formerly under the name Bläserphilharmonie Mozarteum Salzburg – in 2002, Hansjörg Angerer as principal conductor has given this orchestra a distinctive profile. In concerts as well as on impressive CD recordings he succeeded primarily by evolving a unique sound aesthetic as well as special artistic interpretations of the Salzburg Wind Philharmonic and has established it as one of the leading international symphonic wind orchestras, as reflected in excellent reviews in the specialist press.
Worthy of special mention here is for instance the highly acclaimed world premiere of the first German-language opera for wind orchestra, Die Sennenpuppe by Ernst Ludwig Leitner who was essentially inspired by Hansjörg Angerer to compose the work. Besides several successful guest concerts (among others in St. Petersburg, Munich, Duisburg, Vienna and Innsbruck) the annual Epiphany Concert by the Salzburg Wind Philharmonic conducted by Hansjörg Angerer and broadcast live on television (for instance on ORF III, BR and Servus TV) is a special musical highlight.
The successful work of the charismatic conductor Hansjörg Angerer with the Salzburg Wind Philharmonic is documented on several CDs, which have been highly acclaimed by international expert reviewers who described them as “sensational”, “musically outstanding” and “brilliant”.
