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Caroline Oltmanns, pianist

carolineoltmanns.jpg
carolineoltmanns.jpg

Caroline Oltmanns has recorded five solo CDs on the Filia Mundi label. Her newest album is "Venezia e Napoli," recorded in Frankfurt, Germany.

Featuring:
Images 1 by Debussy,
Venezia e Napoli by Liszt
Sonata in E-flat Hob. XVI:49 by Haydn
Bagatelles op. 33 by Beethoven.

About Caroline Oltmanns
Acclaimed for her ‘scintillating creativity and masterful phrasing’ (Martin Frei, Allgäuer Zeitung) pianist Caroline Oltmanns reveals in her playing a deep connectivity between music and culture. Her structural mastery and exciting conceptual ideas equip her to explore the most diverse repertoire. Her impeccable musical phrasing combined with an engaging stage presence have attracted audiences both in the US and abroad. Best described in a recent review, Caroline Oltmanns’ playing is ‘always enlightened by clarity’ (Martin Frei, Alläuer Zeitung). Critics have raved about ‘her flawless, eloquent playing, evoking heartfelt emotions’ (Dernieres Nouvelles d’Alsace). Caroline Oltmanns is able to present new aspects in the standard repertoire works of Brahms, Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Schumann, Chopin and Debussy. Integrity towards the score and insightful creativity enable her to instill fresh relevance to works of the past. Her creative programming of new works builds bridges to unfamiliar repertoire. Through her playing she connects with the individual listener in both small and large settings. Her fluid ability to address listeners in several languages has attracted growing audiences internationally.

This season, Caroline Oltmanns offers an array of solo recitals with major repertoire works including Beethoven’s Waldstein sonata, Liszt’s Venezia e Napoli, and Chopin’s Scherzo in C-sharp minor. The season also introduces new creative paths in the co-production and performance of the concept show ‘Crumb’s Kaleidoscope’. The Bavarian Radio Corporation commissioned the show for live performance broadcast in Germany in June 2014. Previous concert seasons have included concerto appearances with Youngstown Symphony Orchestra (Randall Fleisher), Johnson City Symphony Orchestra (Robert Seebacher), Harburger Orchester Academie (Rainer Schmitz), and Cleveland Philharmonic Orchestra (William Slocum) featuring Beethoven Concertos in B-flat and E-flat, Saint-Saens Concerto in C-minor, and Brahms Concerto No. 2 in B-flat. Solo recital venues have included Steinway Hall and Weill Recital Hall in New York City; Preston Bradley Hall in Chicago; Redlands Bowl and Leo Bing Theater in Los Angeles. Regular recital tours abroad have included Stadttheater Fürth, Germany; Festival International de Piano Franz Liszt, France; Baxter Hall and Endler Hall, South Africa. Caroline Oltmanns has commissioned, premiered and recorded new works including concertos for piano and large ensemble by James Wilding, Till McIvor Meyn, Edward Largent, Rainer Schmitz, Dave Morgan, and Tom Janson.

Professor of Piano at Youngstown State University, Caroline Oltmanns has presented master classes and workshops in the United States, Switzerland, Germany, South Africa, and Canada. Her students have been accepted into prestigious programs in the US and abroad, and have pursued outstanding careers in music. Caroline Oltmanns has initiated and supported several philanthropic causes through regular benefit appearances for organizations of different interests. She recently established the endowment ’88 Hearts for Youngstown’, a fund to support scholarships for piano students.

Caroline Oltmanns received her early pianistic and artistic conservatory training in her native Germany based on the Walter Gieseking and Karl Leimer traditions. She is a Fulbright Scholar, International Steinway Artist, and recipient of substantial awards through the Annette-Kade-Stiftung and the Stipendium der deutschen Wirtschaft. She earned her Diploma at the Staatliche Musikhochschule Freiburg and her Master's and Doctoral degrees at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. Her musical mentors were Robert Levin, John Perry, Vitaly Margulis and Malcolm Frager.