Vienna Philharmoniker,
Principal Flutist

 

2001
Second prize with Orsolino Quitett at the International ARD Music competition in Munich

2000
First Prize at the Deutsche Musikwettbewerb Kammermusik in Bonn

1996
Second Prize at the International Flute competition in Cremona

 

SANKYO 24K Flute with 14K keys

SANKYO Wooden Flute with 14K keys

SANKYO Alto Flute

 

Walter Auer Official Website

Wiener Philharmoniker

Wiener Staats Oper

Orsolino

Walter Auer was born in Villach, Carinthia, in 1971. He began studying flute under Prof. Johannes von Kalckreuth at the Carinthian State Conservatorium. Further studies led him to Michael Kofler at the “Mozarteum” University of Music in Salzburg, to Andreas Blau at the Orchestra Academy of the Berlin Philharmonic in Berlin, and to Aure`le Nicolet for his master classes in Basle.

He began his professional career as principal flute with the Dresden Philharmonic and the NDR Radio Philharmonic Orchestra in Hannover before switching to the same position at the Vienna State Opera and hence to the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra in 2003.

Both as a soloist and chamber musician, he was awarded prizes in the national and international competitions of Leoben, Cremona, Bonn and Munich (ARD). Since then, he has worked internationally as a much sought-after soloist and chamber music partner. He is a member of the Orsolino Quintet and the Wiener Virtuosen. In his search for his personal sound ideal he recently founded his own group of musicians, known as the Vienna Klimt Ensemble.

His efforts to extend the flute repertoire have met with resounding success, for example in the transcription for flute of Chopin’s piano trio (released by Camerata, 2010), and are documented in the very first recording of works by Italian flautist and composer Giulio Briccialdi (“Brilliant Flute” −published by NAMI, Japan, 2011). He has also collaborated closely with the composer Luna Alcalay. In 2011 he performed premieres of works specifically dedicated to himself in Cardiff / Wales (“En passant” for flute solo) and at the Musikverein Vienna (Escapade for wind quintet).

As a soloist Walter has most recently performed concerts with the Kyoto Symphony Orchestra, the Dohna´nyi Orchestra in Budapest, the Nuremberg Philharmonic, the Sinfonia Varsovia, the Capella Istropolitana, the Orchestra Academy in Ossiach and the Wiener Virtuosen. As a soloist with the Vienna Philharmonic, Walter was heard performing under the direction of Daniel Barenboim.

Furthermore, he is very much in demand as a music teacher on the international scene. In recent years he has held master classes at the New York Summer Music Festival, at the Juilliard School and at the Mannes College for Music (USA), at the Sydney Conservatory and at the University of Newcastle (Australia), in Tokyo (Japan), Domzale (Slovenia), Spain and Switzerland. In his capacity as lecturer he has supported the International Orchestra Institute in Attergau, Austria, since summer 2010. In 2011 he was a guest performer und lecturer at the International Flute Festivals in Cardiff, Wales and Shiga, Japan.

In 2012 Walter will be holding master classes at the Carinthian Music Academy in Ossiach, Austria, and at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, UK.

Walter Auer plays a Sankyo 24K flute with a 22K head joint designed by Werner Tomasi from Vienna. When performing concerts with his wife Julia, a traverse flautist, Walter also plays Renaissance and Baroque traverse flutes made by Giovanni Tardino and Martin Wenner.

11/2011