Wolfgang Puntas
Artist profile
Clarinet professor of the Seville Municipal Symphonic Band, a collaborating clarinet professor of the ROSS (Royal Seville Symphony Orchestra), and principal clarinetist of the Seville Bética Philharmonic Orchestra, the Bética Chamber Orchestra, the Seville Zarzuela Company Orchestra, and the “Ensamble Nueva Música” of Seville.
Instrument
B♭/A clarinet Zenit
Quotation
“I have never played on such a beautiful instrument, by both appearance and sound quality. The Zenit clarinet adds more depth to my playing, and makes the music more attractive.”
Biography
A native of Guillena (Seville), Wolfgang Puntas completed in 2015 the III Master’s Degree in Musical Performance specializing in clarinet from the International University of Andalusia and the prestigious Artmusic school. He has been a member of the Andalusian Youth Orchestra and the Barenboim-Said Academy of Orchestral Studies, receiving masterclasses from Antonio Salguero, Yehuda Gilad, Charles Neidich, Ralph Manno, Matthias Glander, Andreas Sundén, Piort Smilisisky, Miguel Civera, Dimitri Ashkenazy, Ramón Barona, Joan Enric Yuna, José Luis Estellés, Joaquín Haro, Javier Balaguer, among others.
He has premiered several compositions for clarinet and symphonic band, including The Cape Cod Concerto (Paquito D’Rivera), Solo de Concurso (Messager), and the clarinet and string orchestra version of “The Miller of Subiza”.
He has also premiered worldwide Pag d’Album in its version for clarinet and symphonic band (M. Mangani), Clarinettomania (version for clarinet and symphonic band), and Perpetual Motion (versions for clarinet and symphonic band, clarinet and quartet).
He has given the Andalusian premieres of several concertos for clarinet and band, including Oscar Navarro’s Second Clarinet Concerto, Fantasia on a Theme from Rigoletto, Fantasia on the opera La Traviata, and works by Artie Shaw.
His main recordings include an album with the Bratislava Symphony Orchestra, several albums with Siempre Así, Pascual González, Antilopez (an album recorded in London, Los Angeles, and Seville), and other artists.
Also noteworthy are his recordings of the soundtracks for the films “Cuando todo está en orden” and “Hotel Danubio,” among others.
He has also recorded several theme songs for Canal Sur television and radio programs such as “La Brújula” on Onda Cero and “Las Mañanas de Carlos Herrera.”
As a conductor, in January 2017 he was chosen to lead the Gerena Municipal Band, making his concert debut at “El Cachorro” with a performance featuring the band, violin, and two choirs. That same year, he joined the “Partituras de Pasión” project, recording his first album with the band.
In August 2018, he recorded the second CD with the band, “Latcho Drom”. He also won several national prizes with the band since then.