Otto Lechner

Otto Lechner ( born February 25, 1964 in Melk) is an Austrian accordionist and composer. Lechner has helped to make the accordion in Austria again popular. His music-making is influenced by many ethnic music styles, jazz and other genres, he often combines his music with literature, readings and theater.

Life

Lechner is the son of a transporter. He was born with severely visually impaired, blind and he finally decided to fifteen years against further operations. Lechner gladly visited the Stiftsgymnasium Melk and completed it. One of his music teacher there was Franz Thürauer. A school friend was today comedian Josef Hader, with whom he later had many joint appearances. The age of four he played the accordion at the inn, later at weddings or at the tusks in the Wachau. Finally, he chose the music his career, he has led the OJE ( Otto's jazz ensemble) that lists his compositions. He had more appearances with the accordion group Accordion Tribe, with Broadlahn, with the Vienna orchestra Raï. The Bethlehem All Stars interpret carols on the world musical way. Furthermore, he has performed with Iva Bittova, Georg Danzer, Max Nagl, Sainkho Namtchylak, Wolfgang Reisinger, Dhafer Youssef and Joe Zawinul. Lechner was the inspiration for the annual International Accordion Festival in Vienna, which was founded in 2000 by Friedl Preisl and from small beginnings could be expanded into a four-week program this year.

Lechner has been living in Vienna in 1987 and from 2007 in Lower Austria Gars am Kamp with his partner Anne Bennents, a Swiss actress, singer and former Burgtheater actress. They have two sons (* 1999 and * 2004). The couple met at a publishing hard to know, initially no one wanted to go from two to that. He creates with her performances in which literature and music are connected.

Recordings (excerpt)

• Otto Lechner: Accordeonata. Extra plate, Vienna 1994, 1 CD, 48 minutes, ISBN 978-3-221-12302-4.
• Otto Lechner: Franz Kafka. Not even caught. Sound book ( p. 32 ) in half linen with 1 CD. Mandelbaum, Vienna 2007, ISBN 978-3-85476-229-4.

Duo and Ensemble

• The first rigorous Chamber Orchestra. RST Records, 1995
• Otto Lechner and Arnaud METHIVIER: Arnottodrom. 2007
• Otto Lechner and Arnaud METHIVIER: The Cyclops And I. Cristal Records, 2011.
• Otto Lechner, Wolfgang puschnig, Achim Tang, Dhafer Youssef: Hot Room. Extraplatte, 1998, 1 CD, 59 minutes, ISBN 978-3-221-13932-2.
• Peter N. Gruber and Otto Lechner Fis. Extra plate, Vienna 2000, 1 CD, 46 minutes, ISBN 978-3-221-14582-8.
• Peter N. Gruber and Otto Lechner: the lily. Extra plate, Vienna 2001, 1 CD, 54 minutes, ISBN 978-3-221-14882-9.
• Otto Lechner, Klaus Trabitsch & the Bethlehem All Stars: Fear not. Concert recordings at the Orpheum & Vindobona. Greyhound Records, Vienna 2001
• Otto Lechner, Klaus Trabitsch & the Bethlehem All Stars: Still. Greyhound Records, Vienna 2006

With Anne Bennents

• Otto Lechner and Anne Bennents: gwundrig. Stories by Robert Walser. Extra plate, Vienna 2001, 62 min, audio CD, ISBN 978-3-221-70172-7.
• Otto Lechner and Anne Bennents: The crypt keeper. Based on a story by Franz Kafka. Sound book ( p. 32 ) with 1 CD. almond- tree library of sounds, Vienna 2008, ISBN 978-3-85476-249-2. ( Review: )
• Otto Lechner and Anne Bennents: The Voices of Marrakesh. From Elias Canetti, sound book ( p. 32 ) in half linen with 2 CDs. Mandelbaum, Vienna 2010, ISBN 978-3-85476-230-0.
• Otto Lechner and Anne Bennents: Layla and Majnun. From Nizami, with ensemble. Sound book ( p. 32 ) with 2 CDs. Mandelbaum, Vienna 2011, ISBN 978385476-339-0. ( Audiobook review: )

Film

• Accordion Tribe. Documentary, Switzerland, Austria, 2004, 87 min, written and directed by Stefan Schwietert, Production: Maximage, Fischer film, SF, ORF. With Guy Klucevsek, Lars Hollmer, Maria Kalaniemi, Bratko Bibič, Otto Lechner. Meeting: See also: Accordion Tribe.