Clemens Hellsberg (born 28 March 1952) is an Austrianviolinist and from 1997 to 2014 was director of theWiener Philharmoniker.

Born in Linz, after attending theSchottengymnasium in Vienna, Hellsberg studiedmusicology and ancient history at theUniversity of Vienna, where he received his doctorate in 1980. At the same time he studied violin at theUniversity of Music and Performing Arts Vienna. He was a special forces soldier, a member of theJagdkommando with theBundesheer.^[1] In 1976 he was employed by the orchestra of theVienna State Opera, and from 1978 played as first violinist in the orchestra of the same opera house. The Philharmonic recorded him in 1980. From 1997 to 2014 he succeededWerner Resel on the board of directors. In September 2014,Andreas Großbauer succeeded him in this function.^[2] In 2016 he went into retirement.^[3]

Hellsberg also gained fame through his bookDemocracy of the Kings, published in 1992. TheAustrian Green party published this history of the Vienna Philharmonic because of what they saw as omissions, from the official narrative, of elements ofNazism in the past of the Vienna Philharmonic.^[4]

He has been a member of the Catholic student fraternityKÖStV Rudolfina Wien [de] of theÖsterreichischer Cartellverband [de] since 1974.^[5]

• 1992:Demokratie der Könige: Die Geschichte der Wiener Philharmoniker. Musikverlag Schott, Mainz 1992,ISBN 978-3795702366
• 2015:Philharmonische Begegnungen 1: Die Welt der Wiener Philharmoniker als Mosaik. Braumüller Verlag, Vienna 2015,ISBN 978-3-99100-161-4
• 2016:Philharmonische Begegnungen 2: Die Welt der Wiener Philharmoniker als Mosaik. Braumüller Verlag, Vienna 2016,ISBN 978-3-99100-188-1

• 1999:Komtur desOrder of St. Gregory the Great.^[6]
• 2002: Berufstitel Professor
• 2011:Ehrenzeichen des Landes Salzburg [de].
• 2012:Marietta and Friedrich Torberg Medal of theIsraelitische Kultusgemeinde Wien.
• 2013:Goldenes Ehrenzeichen für Verdienste um das Land Wien [de].
• 2014:Order of the Rising Sun.^[7]
• 2014:Order proMerito Melitensi.^[8]
• 2015:Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et Lettres.^[9]

Wikimedia Commons has media related toClemens Hellsberg.

• Literature by and about Clemens Hellsberg in theGerman National Library catalogue
• Interview with Clemens Hellsberg
• Clemens Hellsberg auf der Website der Wiener Philharmoniker
• Discography on ALLMUSIC
• Clemens Hellsberg discography atDiscogs

• Austrian classical violinists
• Players of the Vienna Philharmonic
• Knights Commander of the Order of St Gregory the Great
• Marietta and Friedrich Torberg Medal recipients
• Recipients of the Order of the Rising Sun
• Chevaliers of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres
• University of Vienna alumni
• 1952 births
• Living people
• Musicians from Linz
• Cartellverband members

• Webarchive template wayback links
• Commons category link from Wikidata