Seifert Quartet Vienna - String quartets Haydn & Dvorák

Seifert Quartet Vienna The tradition of chamber music performed by members of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra is nearly as old as this famous orchestra itself. The Seifert Quartet has been maintaining this tradition since its foundation in 1972 in the easy-going Viennese spirit that is characteristic of us, combined with our very special demands on authenticity and sound quality. Our close cooperation with important composers, singers and soloists within the framework of our work at the State Opera and Vienna Philharmonics has provided our quartet with an almost inexhaustible wealth of experience and artistic exchange. To us it is both a joy and necessity to pass on this wealth to our concert listeners.    Günter Seifert, 1st violin Born in Weyer, Upper Austria. 1962 -1969 Studied Music at the University of Music and Dramatic Arts Mozarteum in Salzburg, 1969 -1974 Studied under Prof. Samohyl at the Vienna Academy of Music. 1972 Engaged by the Vienna State Opera, 1975 A 1st Violin of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. 1980 1st violin of the Seifert Quartet, 1988-1992 Member of Ensemble Wien, 1993 Conferral of the Audio-Media Prize and 1996 the Mozart Interpretation Award by the Vienna Mozart Community. 1995 Foundation of the Vienna Violin Quartet. Since 1999 Concertmaster of the Corso Vienna Ensemble.2002 Founder and Artistic Director of Hofballkapelle Wien and 2008 Artistic Director of the Ensemble “Die Wiener”   Harald Krumpöck, 2nd violin Born in Vienna. First violin lessons at the age of six in his home village Kirchschlag. As of 1984: Studied at the Vienna Academy of Music under Michael Schnitzler and Gerhard Hetzel, as of 1991 at the Academy’s location in Oberschützen under Alfred Staar. Apart from winning several prizes in "Jugend musiziert" competitions, Harald Krumpöck was awarded a scholarship by the "Eastern Music Festival" in Greensborough, USA, in 1986. In 1994 he won first prize in the International Brahms Competition in Pörtschach with the Ison Ensemble. After working as Concertmaster of the Gustav-Mahler Youth Orchestra in 1987, he became a member of the Vienna State Opera Orchestra in 1993 following his successful audition. Since 1996 Member of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra.   Michael Strasser, viola Born in Grieskirchen, Upper Austria. Studied violin under Prof. Albert Fischer and Prof. Boris Kuschnir in Linz. Then studied viola at the Vienna Academy of Music under Prof. Peter Ochsenhofer. In 1993 and 1998 he won first prize at the Austrian Violin Competition. 2001 1st prize at the Austrian Chamber Music Competition. Since 2003 Member of the Vienna State Opera, and since 2006 Member of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra.   Eckart Schwarz-Schulz, violoncello Born in Fürstenfeldbruck near Munich. Studied cello at the Vienna and Frankfurt Academies of Music under Prof. Wolfgang Herzer and Antonio Meneses respectively. Following conferral of several prizes, awards and scholarships, he worked as a solo-cellist with the National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland in Dublin between 1998 and 2004. During that period, he was invited to act as the "guest leader" to the Philharmonia Orchestra in London and Hallé Orchestra Manchester. As a soloist with the NSO he played concertos by Milhaud, Brahms, Webber and Ayres, as well as the Dvorak Concerto with the Hibernian Orchestra, and the Haydn Concerto in D with the Dublin Baroque Players. Cooperation with the conductors Gerhard Markson, Alexander Anissimov and Israel Yinon. Radio recordings as a soloist and chamber musician for RTE, BBC and ORF. As a solo-cellist of the Irish Film Orchestra, recordings including particularly for U2, the Corrs and Van Morrison. Since 2004, cellist in the Vienna State Opera Orchestra, since 2007 Member of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra.