Clemens Hellsberg (8746894367) (cropped)

Clemens Hellsberg (born 28 March 1952) is an Austrian violinist and from 1997 to 2014 was director of the

Wiener Philharmoniker The Vienna Philharmonic (VPO; german: Wiener Philharmoniker, links=no) is an orchestra that was founded in 1842 and is considered to be one of the finest in the world. The Vienna Philharmonic is based at the Musikverein in Vienna, Austria. It ...

Life

Born in Linz, after attending the

Schottengymnasium Schottengymnasium (officially the Öffentliches Schottengymnasium der Benediktiner in Wien) is an independent Catholic gymnasium with public status in the First District of Vienna. The school was founded in 1807 by imperial decree, and is consi ...

in Vienna, Hellsberg studied

musicology Musicology (from Greek μουσική ''mousikē'' 'music' and -λογια ''-logia'', 'domain of study') is the scholarly analysis and research-based study of music. Musicology departments traditionally belong to the humanities, although some mu ...

and ancient history at the University of Vienna, where he received his doctorate in 1980. At the same time he studied violin at the

University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna The University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna (german: link=no, Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst Wien, abbreviated MDW) is an Austrian university located in Vienna, established in 1817. With a student body of over three thousa ...

. He was a special forces soldier, a member of the

Jagdkommando The Jagdkommando (German for ''Hunting Commando'') is the Austrian Armed Forces' Special Operations group. Role The duties of this elite unit, like its counterparts such as the United States Army Special Forces, are chiefly counter-terrorism an ...

with the Bundesheer. In 1976 he was employed by the orchestra of the Vienna State Opera, and from 1978 played as first violinist in the orchestra of the same opera house. The Philharmonic recorded him in 1980. From 1997 to 2014 he succeeded Werner Resel on the board of directors. In September 2014,

Andreas Großbauer Andreas Großbauer (born 1974) is an Austrian classical violinist. From September 2014 to September 2017 he was chairman of the Vienna Philharmonic. Life Born in Graz, Großbauer received his first violin lessons at the age of five. At the age of ...

succeeded him in this function. In 2016 he went into retirement. Hellsberg also gained fame through his book ''Democracy of the Kings'', published in 1992. The

Austrian Green party Austrian may refer to: * Austrians, someone from Austria or of Austrian descent ** Someone who is considered an Austrian citizen, see Austrian nationality law * Austrian German dialect * Something associated with the country Austria, for example: ...

published this history of the Vienna Philharmonic because of what they saw as omissions, from the official narrative, of elements of Nazism in the past of the Vienna Philharmonic. He has been a member of the Catholic student fraternity of the since 1974.

Publications

* 1992: ''Demokratie der Könige: Die Geschichte der Wiener Philharmoniker''. Musikverlag Schott, Mainz 1992, * 2015: ''Philharmonische Begegnungen 1: Die Welt der Wiener Philharmoniker als Mosaik''. Braumüller Verlag, Vienna 2015, * 2016: ''Philharmonische Begegnungen 2: Die Welt der Wiener Philharmoniker als Mosaik''. Braumüller Verlag, Vienna 2016,

Honours

* 1999: Komtur des Order of St. Gregory the Great. * 2002: Berufstitel Professor * 2011: . * 2012: Marietta and Friedrich Torberg Medal of the

Israelitische Kultusgemeinde Wien The Jewish Community of Vienna (Israelitische Kultusgemeinde Wien or IKG) is the body that represents Vienna's Orthodox Judaism, Orthodox Jewish community. Today, the IKG has around 10 000 members. Throughout history, it has represented almost all ...

. * 2013: . * 2014:

Order of the Rising Sun The is a Japanese order, established in 1875 by Emperor Meiji. The Order was the first national decoration awarded by the Japanese government, created on 10 April 1875 by decree of the Council of State. The badge features rays of sunlight ...

. * 2014: Order pro ''Merito Melitensi''. * 2015: Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et Lettres.''Überreichung der Insignen eines Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et Lettres an Clemens Hellsberg''
Article published on 1 July 2015, retrieved on 27 October 2019.

External links

*
Interview with Clemens Hellsberg

Clemens Hellsberg auf der Website der Wiener Philharmoniker

Discography
on ALLMUSIC *

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hellsberg, Clemens Austrian classical violinists Players of the Vienna Philharmonic Knights Commander of the Order of St Gregory the Great Marietta and Friedrich Torberg Medal recipients Recipients of the Order of the Rising Sun Chevaliers of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres University of Vienna alumni 1952 births Living people Musicians from Linz Cartellverband members