Death of Heinz Böttger

The Berliner Philharmoniker mourn the death of Heinz Böttger, who was a member of the orchestra’s second violins for 41 years. Born in Freital, Saxony in 1929, he studied first under Erich Mühlbach in Dresden and from 1950 at the Berlin Musikhochschule under Rudolf Schulz and Vittorio Brero. From 1948 to 1950, he was concertmaster of the Mozart-Orchester in Dresden before joining the RIAS Kammerorchester. In September 1955, Heinz Böttger became a member of the Berliner Philharmoniker when the Karajan era began. He retired in 1996.

Heinz Böttger was passionately devoted to chamber music, including as second violinist in the Drolc Quartet, which became known for its commitment to contemporary music. In 1964 he founded the Böttger Quartet as its first violinist. Even in retirement, he played string quartets with fellow musicians. Heinz Böttger died at the age of 93.