MOZARTENSEMBLE OF THE VOLKSOPER VIENNA

Hansgeorg Schmeiser, Flute

Hansgeorg Schmeiser began his musical studies with Gottfried Hechtl at the Musikhochschule of his home town of Graz. He then continued his studies with Alain Marion in Paris and with Wolfgang Schulz at the Musikhochschule Vienna, where he gained his diploma with distinction in 1982. He attended further master-classes with Aurele Nicolet, Alain Marion and Karl-Heinz Zoeller.

His activities as a soloist and chamber musician have taken him to all parts of Europe and subsequently to Japan and Korea where he holds regular master-classes. Since 1993 he has been artistic director of the master-classes of the Neuberger Kulturtage, since 2001 he also directs the International Academy for Flute in Fiss (Tyrol). Hansgeorg Schmeiser is a regular guest at the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra as well as being a long-term member of the Wiener Kammerorchester, of the ensemble die Reihe and of the Ensemble des 20.Jahrhunderts.

Hansgeorg Schmeiser plays a 24ct. gold flute made by the Japanese flute-maker Muramatsu.

Alexander Burggasser, Violin

Alexander Burggasser was born in Vienna in 1975. He took his first violin lessons at the age of seven years with Leopold Buchmann. From his twelfth year of birth onwards he studied with Franz Samohyl at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna. He continued his studies in 1999 with Jan Pospichal and graduated with distinction from his professional concert studies in 2003. His artistry is accomplished by master classes with Zakhar Bron.

He was award winner of the competitions by the Vienna Conservatory and of the Stephanie Hohl - competition in 1997.

From 1998 Alexander Burggasser performed as substitute in the Vienna Staatsoper and the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. Since September 2000 he is engaged as the section leader of the 1st violins in the orchestra of the Volksoper Vienna.

His varied musical interests brought this musician to chamber music in his early days. So besides his professional concert studies, he studied piano chamber music with Avo Kouyoumdjian where he got to know his duet partner Susanna Koller. Since 2004 they perform under the name “Duo Giocoso”; their CD records of selected pieces from W. A. Mozart, L. v. Beethoven, J. Sibelius and I. Pleyel prove the successful work of both musicians (www.duo-giocoso.at).

Since 2005 Alexander Burggasser is the first violinist of the Auris quartet and he graduated with distinction from the studies for the direction of ensembles and conducting at the Vienna Conservatory Private University.

Peter Sagaischek, Violin

Studied the violin with Rainer Küchl and viola with Alfred Staar at the Musikhochschule in Vienna - 1990 engagement as principal viola player to the Orchestra of the Vienna Volksoper, since 1993 position as solo viola - performance as chamber musician with Philharmonia Quintett Wien, Wiener Gustav-Mahler-Quartett, Trio plus Wien, Wiener Instrumentalsolisten and others - concerts as a soloist in Hungary, Thailand and Japan.

Christophe Pantillon, Cello

Studied with Heinrich Schiff in Basel, with Valentin Erben in Vienna and with Ralph Kirchbaum in Manchester - master class with Mischa Maisky - 1991 John Barbirolli Prize for the Cello in Manchester - since 1993 principal cello in the Orchestra of the Vienna Volksoper - 1995 début in the Vienna Musikvereinssaal - member of Arcus-Ensemble, Wien-Tokyo-Ensemble - founding member of Aron Quartett Wien (quartet in residence at the Arnold Schönberg Center, Vienna).