The Philharmonix
Classical music is not supposed to be fun, right? And yet, every concert of the Philharmonix is a living, grooving, finger-snapping testament to the contrary. And who exactly is having fun here? Is it the seven world-class musicians who get to play the kind of repertoire one would never see on the playbill of their legendary orchestras? Or is it the audience, whose eyes light up at their sparkling display of virtuosity and passion? The Philharmonix’ sophisticated sense of humor allows them to move seamlessly from the sublime to the ridiculous and back, taking their audience along for a madcap roller-coaster ride.
 
Classical music at its most refined can be a jolly good time. This unique ensemble brings together three members of the Vienna Philharmonic, two Berlin Philharmonic soloists, one of the most versatile Austrian pianists and an improvising and singing violinist, for a deliciously heady cocktail of classical, jazz, klezmer, Latin, even pop music... and yes, good old fun. With their signature blend of the “highest philharmonic quality and unrestrained joy of music-making” (Kurier, Austria), Philharmonix is synonymous with “entertainment”.
 
And what is the secret ingredient to the ensemble’s runaway success? What mysterious essence binds together these virtuosos of independent artistic pursuits and individual achievements and awards that are too numerous to mention?
 
That’s right: the Philharmonix come together only if and when they are inspired by a new musical idea. There is not an ounce of routine or obligation in anything they do, and this is how they capture the elusive Holy Grail of today’s classical performance: the “you had to have been there” effect, which turns a casual audience member into a passionate fan. So... who gets to have the most fun?
 
It seems to be everyone within an earshot of this musical feast, which isn’t necessarily classical but has a lot of class.
 
Members:
Noah Bendix-Balgley, violin
First Concertmaster of the Berliner Philharmoniker since 2014, Noah Bendix-Balgley has thrilled and moved audiences around the world with his performances. Since becoming a Laureate of the 2009 Queen Elisabeth Competition in Brussels and gathering acclaim at further international competitions, Noah has appeared as a soloist with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, the Orchestre National de Belgique, Auckland Philharmonia, and the Utah Symphony among others. From 2011 until 2015, Noah was Concertmaster of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. His Pittsburgh debut recital in January 2012 was named the “Best Classical Concert of 2012” by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Noah also performed his own version of “The Star-Spangled Banner” for solo violin in front of 39,000 fans at the 2013 Pittsburgh Pirates Opening Day at PNC Park.
 
Noah is a passionate and experienced chamber musician and performs regularly at festivals in Europe and North America, including the Verbier Festival, the Sarasota Festival, ChamberFest Cleveland, the Seattle Chamber Music Festival.
 
Born in Asheville, North Carolina, Noah began playing violin at age 4. At age 9, he played for Lord Yehudi Menuhin in Switzerland. Noah graduated from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music and the Munich Hochschule. In his spare time, he enjoys playing klezmer music. He has played with world-renowned klezmer groups such as Brave Old World, and has taught klezmer violin at workshops in Europe and in the United States. In June 2016, the Noah premiered his own klezmer concerto 'Fidl-Fantazye' with the Pittsburgh Symphony conducted by Manfred Honeck.

Sebastian Gürtler, violin
Was born in Austria, and studied with Helmut Zehetmair, Corrado Romano, Ernst Kovacic and Philippe Hirschhorn.
 
From 1997 until 2008, he served as first Concertmaster of the Vienna Volksoper Orchestra.
 
In 2000, he founded the ensemble Amarcord Wien. Most of the transcriptions, which are the specificity of the ensemble, are done by members of the group. In 2005 he joined the Hugo Wolf Quartet on the first violin.
 
His chamber music partners include Stefan Mendl, Markus Schirmer, Philippo Gamba, Clemens Hagen, Mario Brunello, Orfeo Mandozzi, Christian Poltera and members of the Ensemble Wien-Berlin as well as members of Art of Brass, Wolfgang Muthspiel, Allegre Corrêa, Georg Breinschmid, Kenny Wheeler, John Taylor, Aleksey Igudesman and Rebekka Bakken.
 
In 2016 the quartet founded in collaboration with Alban Berg Foundation, the Alban Berg Ensemble Wien, a group including string quartet, piano, flute and clarinet. A new concept of programming and repertoire is the aim of the ensemble who is running an own series of concert in the Brahmssaal of the Vienna Musikverein.
 
Sebastian Gürtler played as a soloist with the Camerata Academica Salzburg, the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, the Vienna Chamber Orchestra, the Vienna Chamber Philharmonic, the Dresden Philharmonic, the Mozarteum Orchestra of Salzburg, the Vienna Academic Philharmonic Orchestra, the Tonkünstler Orchester of Lower Austria, under conductors such as Sandor Vegh, Lothar Zagrosek, Trevor Pinnock, Günther Herbig and Yehudi Menuhin.
 
Thilo Fechner, viola
Thilo Fechner was born in Berlin. The son of a family of musicians studied at the University of Arts Berlin and at Juilliard School New York. Already during his studies Thilo Fechner had acquired plenty of orchestral practice. He was a member of the Herbert von Karajan Academy of the Berlin Philharmonic and the Berlin Baroque Orchestra. In 1996 he was engaged with the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande in Geneva, in 1997 he signed with the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra. Having been repeatedly involved at the Bayreuth Festival, he became a member of Vienna State Opera Orchestra and the Vienna Philharmonic in 2004.
 
Stephan Koncz, cello
Stephan Koncz, born in Vienna in 1984, originates from an Austro-Hungarian family. He was educated at the University of Music in Vienna, where he studied with Valentin Erben and Robert Nagy. Master classes with Daniel Barenboim, Steven Isserlis and Heinrich Schiff as well as conducting and composition studies completed his education. As a soloist and chamber musician, Stephan Koncz won several prizes at national and international competitions. From 2006 to 2008, Stephan Koncz was a fellow at the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra Academy (studying with Ludwig Quandt) and subsequently played with both the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra and the 12 Cellists of the Berlin Philharmonic. After two years as a member of the Vienna State Opera Orchestra / Vienna Philharmonic, he returned to Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra as a regular member in 2010.

Ödön Rácz, double bass
Ödön Rácz was born in Budapest. He is double bass soloist with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra and the Vienna State Opera Orchestra since 2009. Ödön Rácz has performed as a soloist with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, the Münchener Kammerorchester, the Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks as well as the Franz Liszt Chamber Orchestra, the Haydn Philharmonic and the Stuttgart Philharmonic Orchestra.
 
He has played as a soloist and participated in chamber music performances in Europe, Brazil, China, Korea and Japan. He won in a number of international competitions. In 2013, "Double Bass Fantasy" was released as a CD by Granola. In 2016, he published his third CD with Deutsche Grammophon.
 
Daniel Ottensamer, clarinet
Principal clarinettist of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. Prizewinner of the most prestigious international competitions. Remarkable soloistic career, with conductors such as Lorin Maazel, Gustavo Dudamel, Andris Nelsons, etc. CD-Recordings as a soloist and as member of "the clarinotts" released by Sony-Classical and the "Deutsche Grammophon".
 
Christoph Traxler, piano
Christoph Traxler is one of the most versatile young Austrian pianists. He performs with orchestras such as the Vienna Chamber Orchestra and the Staatskapelle Halle with famous conductors like Manfred Honeck and Ralf Weikert. Furthermore he appears on stage in recitals and chamber music concerts with partners such as Angelika Kirchschlager, Bo Skovhus and members of the Vienna and the Berlin Philharmonic.
 
Traxler has performed in many cities of Europe as well as in the United States, Asia and Africa and was part of several CD productions as well as radio and TV broadcasts. Furthermore he is holding master classes in Austria, Japan, China, Morocco and the United States.
 
Program:
 
Queen (arr. Stephan Koncz): Don’t stop me now
 
Stephan Koncz: Swing on Beethoven
 
Sebastian Gürtler: Babarababa
 
Johann Strauss (arr. Sebastian Gürtler): Ouvertüre “Die Fledermaus”
 
George Gershwin (arr. Stephan Koncz): Summertime
 
Marcus Davy/Sebastian Gürtler: Spanish Liver
 
Sebastian Gürtler: Tristans Tango
 
Stephan Koncz: Transsylvanian Dances
 
Valerij Gavrilin (arr. Sebastian Gürtler): Anyuta
 
Fritz Kreisler (arr. Stephan Koncz): Tambourin Chinoise
 
Henri Mancini (arr. Stephan Koncz): Pink Panther
 
Stephan Koncz/Traditional: Czardas
 
(Please check program updates at the concert.)

Program:
 
Queen (arr. Stephan Koncz): Don’t stop me now
 
Stephan Koncz: Swing on Beethoven
 
Sebastian Gürtler: Babarababa
 
Johann Strauss (arr. Sebastian Gürtler): Ouvertüre “Die Fledermaus”
 
George Gershwin (arr. Stephan Koncz): Summertime
 
Marcus Davy/Sebastian Gürtler: Spanish Liver
 
Sebastian Gürtler: Tristans Tango
 
Stephan Koncz: Transsylvanian Dances
 
Valerij Gavrilin (arr. Sebastian Gürtler): Anyuta
 
Fritz Kreisler (arr. Stephan Koncz): Tambourin Chinoise
 
Henri Mancini (arr. Stephan Koncz): Pink Panther
 
Stephan Koncz/Traditional: Czardas
 
(Please check program updates at the concert.)