Interview:

1.) Depending on your opinion: a) who is the most underestimated composer and b) the most overestimated composer of the classical guitar literature?

As so many aspects in music this is very much a matter of personal preference and taste. More than once have I had a preconceived idea about a piece, or indeed a composer, but then I heard a gripping performance and my opinion changed. So if you consider a piece or the works of a composer particularly bad, then it´s your job as performer to add the “certain something” to make it interesting for the audience.

 
2.) Which pysical characteristics of a guitar player do you see as typically?

Again this is very difficult to answer because every player has his own characteristics. Of course there are certain things that a lot of guitarists do, but then there are others who don´t do it, so I wouldn´t want to generalize guitaristic characteristics. However, if I had to mention a particular aspect I would say guitarists tend to be too much “soloists”. We play an instrument that doesn´t need accompaniment and therefore we are easily led to believe we could do whatever we wanted when performing a piece. This is not quite true because there is still the audience and they need to be able to follow our musical ideas.

When you play together with other musicians you have to be very clear in what you do both musically and rhythmically. So playing a lot of chamber music actually also helps you as soloist because it trains your ability to be clear in what you want to express.

3.) Which dreams of yourself would you like to fullfill?

There a few languages that I would love to master, my Spanish isn´t up to scratch, and Chinese or Arabic would be very interesting. Being the big opera fan that I am, I sometimes regret that I´ve never even tried to train my voice. Now it´s probably too late to start a new career on the opera stage.

4.) About what do you felt a bit sheepish?

The answer to this question…

5.) What is the motto of your life?

To try to live happy, independent of the situation.

6.) Which prejudice regarding the classical guitar  would you put away?

As so many aspects in music this is very much a matter of personal preference and taste. More than once have I had a preconceived idea about a piece, or indeed a composer, but then I heard a gripping performance and my opinion changed. So if you consider a piece or the works of a composer particularly bad, then it´s your job as performer to add the “certain something” to make it interesting for the audience.

7) Which celebrated public characters of the world history do you find most challenging?

I think I would love to meet Elizabeth I of England, Giuseppe Verdi and Richard Strauss.

8) Newsworthy question: Who of the todays most famous guitar artists may fill Andés Segovias shoes?

No one, because Segovia was a unique personality as is every other guitarist. Isn´t it better to be the “one and only” as the second Segovia? Also Segovia lived and performed in a time when the guitar was even more an outsider instrument than it is now. So a great part of his importance lies in the fact that he brought the guitar to the concert halls. In that way he was truly a unique pioneer for the guitar.

Thank you very much Armin for this interview.

Jovan Pesec

Armin Egger was born in Graz (Austria) in 1975.

He studied with Elisabeth and Heinz Irmler at the “University of Music and Performing Arts” in Graz and with Timothy Walker at the “Royal Academy of Music” in London, finishing both degrees with “Distinction”. For his final recital at the “Royal Academy” he was also awarded the RAM´s highest accolade, the “Diploma of the Royal Academy of Music“.

Prize winner of numerous national and international competitions, among others the International Guitar Competition Milan (Italy), Riviera del Conero Competition in Ancona (Italy), International Guitar Competition in Rust (Austria), International Guitar Competition Stafford (UK), Concurso “Comarca del Condado” in Jaen (Spain).
In 1999 Julian Bream awarded him the Julian Bream Prize of the Royal Academy of Music in London.

Concerts and recitals as soloist and in chamber music ensembles in Europe and North America as well as soloist with various orchestras (e.g. Radio Symphony Orchestra Vienna, Vienna Chamber Orchestra under the baton of Lord Yehudi Menuhin).
Performances at various festivals such as “Britten and the Britons”, “Junge Frühlingswoche” (Konzerthaus, Vienna, Austria), “Int. Guitar Festival Nürtingen” (Germany), Guitar Festival (Bolivar Hall, London), Strings Only (Zadar/Croatia).

The American competition “Webconcerthall” ranked Egger´s solo CD “Mostly Spanish” together with recordings by two cellists and pianists among its top five recordings.

Future projects include a performance with orchestra in Taiwan as well as a solo recital at the Konzerthaus in Vienna.
On schedule is also a recording of Jovan Pesec's composition ".v.i.r.u.s" at studio.v4m.vienna.
As member of the Armin Egger Consort (guitar & string quartet) Armin Egger will perform a concert at the International Guitar Festival Rust 2006.

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