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The horn player and former boy soprano, Friedrich Pfeiffer, began his musical career at an institution rich in Viennese tradition - the Wiener Sängerknaben - being a member of that organization from 1968 until 1972. During this time he was featured as soloist in a recording conducted by Nikolaus Harnoncourt of the cantatas of J.S. Bach and performed the role of the "Erster Knabe" in The Magic Flute by W.A. Mozart at both the Bavarian State Opera in Munich and at the Wiener Staatsoper. After leaving the Wiener Sängerknaben, he commenced the study of horn with Josef Veleba, a member of the Wiener Philharmoniker from 1940 until 1977.
By the age of 18, Friedrich Pfeiffer had been engaged as principal horn with the Lower Austrian Tonkünstler Orchestra, and two years later he was awarded the same position with the Wiener Symphoniker. On September 1, 1981 he joined the Wiener Staatsoper Orchestra, serving in the positions of first, third and fourth horn. He was awarded membership in the Wiener Philharmoniker on January 1, 1985, with whom he performed Mozart's Symphonia Concertante in E-flat Major, KV 297b, under the baton of Riccardo Muti on February 1, 1987. He has been a member of the Hofmusikkapelle since 1987, thus returning once again to the place of his first musical engagement. Following the completion of a pertinent course of study with Karl Österreicher, Friedrich Pfeiffer turned his attention to conducting and has worked in this capacity with orchestras in Austria, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Japan. |
