Alois Kottmann was raised as one of three children of a silversmith. His mother was very much interested in music so she made every possible effort for a musical education of her children. His highschool music teacher stimulated him to play the violin so he started with private violin courses. His teacher was Marie-Louise Graef-Mönch, the assistant of Alma Moodie, who taught him in the tradition of Carl Flesch. After graduation he still got these courses and also some in the home of the Hölscher family where he befriended with Gert Hölscher (1930–2010) who especially cultivated his musical efforts. There he met the pianist Günter Ludwig. At Frankfurt University of Music he studied with Marie-Louise Graef-Mönch, his former private violin teacher.
During a university competition in Hamburg Kottmann was awarded. After his concerto exam he initially was employed as violin teacher at Odenwaldschule. From 1958 Kottmann was professor at renowned Hoch Conservatory in Frankfurt. Later he was also employed as violin teacher at Frankfurt University of Music and Performing Arts, at Goethe University Frankfurt, and at University of Mainz. From 1977 to 1979 he was acting director of Hoch Conservatory Frankfurt.
His dedication to substantial music and its repetition is significantly based on university teachers he met during his own education as of Walther Davisson, Kurt Hessenberg, Gustav Lenzewski, August Leopolder, and Helmut Walcha as well as encounters with members of the Bethmann family, Anton Biersack, Reinhold Finkbeiner, Erich Flinsch, Karl Freitag, Karlheinz Ludwig Funk, Ludwig Hölscher, Richard Rudolf Klein, Dieter Lindemann, Otmar Mácha, Thomas Magyar, Yehudi Menuhin, Ginette Neveu, Elly Ney, Váša Příhoda, Max Rostal, Gerhard Taschner, Rüdiger Volhard, Bruno Vondenhoff, Karl Weiß, and Friedrich Zipp.
"Music is no aid for self-portrayal but instead a medium of communication among people."
– Prof. h. c. Alois Kottmann (translated from German)
Kottman formed artistic partnerships with Albert Mangelsdorff, Karl Freitag, Agnes Giebel, Peter-Lukas Graf, Ingo Goritzki, Rainer Hoffmann, Alois Ickstadt, Maria Jäger-Jung, Marietta Krutisch, Günter Ludwig, Gisela Sott, and Heinz Teuchert.
Alois Kottmann was especially committed to fight for the continuity of Hoch Conservatory which was under discussion to amalgamate several times. He is still involved in regional support of musical culture in the Rhine-Main area, of international young talents, of composers from Frankfurt, and the Frankfurt-based violin tradition of Carl Flesch. He is strictly dedicated to humanity and a brisk artistic and social exchange on international basis. His dedication to these topics and human qualities is still active.
Frankfurt University of Music and Performing Arts
Hoch Conservatory Frankfurt
Goethe University Frankfurt
University of Mainz
Initiatives and obligations
1968 – Founder of string ensemble Collegium Instrumentale Alois Kottmann
1970er – Founder of Senckenberg Concertos at Naturmuseum Senckenberg in Frankfurt
1980 – Co-Founder of Gallus Concertos in Flörsheim
1983 – Founder of International Days of Music Hesse Main-Taunus Hofheim in Hofheim
1987 – Founder of Philippsruhe Palace Concertos in Hanau
1988 – Founder of chamber orchestra Kottmann-Streicher
2000 – Instigator of Paul Hindemith Award for Arts and Humanity of the city of Hanau
2001 – Founder and benefactor of Alois Kottmann Award for classical canto-style play of the violin in connection with the city of Frankfurt
With Hessischer Rundfunk and Norddeutscher Rundfunk has been formed a long-term cooperation through concerted archive recordings of a multiplicity of violin solo works. Recordings were also produced with Rundfunk im amerikanischen Sektor (RIAS Berlin), Radio Diffusion Paris (France), Schweizer Radio DRS (Switzerland), and the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), as well as takeovers for Czechoslovakian Broadcasting Corporation.
In cooperation with Figuralchor Frankfurt directed by Prof. Alois Ickstadt a multiplicity of radio broadcasts for ARD were created where Collegium Instrumentale Alois Kottmann and Alois Kottmann as soloist took an active part. In 1985 Kottmann was involved in a TV production of ZDF named Passion und Leidenschaft, also starring Adalbert Kraus and Ernst Gerold Schramm.
Alois Kottmann gave guest performances with his string ensemble Collegium Instrumentale Alois Kottmann in United Kingdom, the United States, and in Mexico.
Appointment as honorary member of Drogenhilfe 80 (aid for drug users) by the president of the German parliament Bundestag
Honorary professorship of Arts faculty of Frankfurt University of Music and Performing Arts
August Gaul Plaque for Culture and Arts Hanau (1999)
Frankfurt Plaque of Honour (2000)
Hesse State Cross of Merit (2002)
German Federal Cross of Merit (2006)
Vereinigung der Freunde des Collegium Instrumentale Alois Kottmann e. V. (Hrsg.): 40 Jahre Collegium Instrumentale Alois Kottmann. A publication commemorating the 40th anniversary of Collegium Instrumentale Alois Kottmann. Contains greetings of Dr. h. c. Petra Roth, Dr. h. c. Traudl Herrhausen, Prof. Dr. h. c. Peter-Lukas Graf, Helmuth Fintl, Prof. Richard Rudolf Klein und Prof. Alois Ickstadt. Verlag Otto Lembeck. Frankfurt am Main, Germany 2008.
Johann Sebastian Bach: Konzert a-Moll für Violine, Basso continuo und Streicher, Konzert E-Dur für Violine, Basso continuo und Streicher, Konzert d-Moll für zwei Violinen, Basso continuo und Streicher. Solisten: Alois Kottmann (vl), Boris Kottmann (vl), Basso continuo wird ausgeführt mit Theorbe. Melisma 7210-2, Oestrich-Winkel.
Albert Mangelsdorff: Denk ich an Bosnien für Posaune und Streicher; Miniaturen für Violine und Posaune; Richard Rudolf Klein: Kontradiktion für Violine, Posaune und Streicher; Paul Hindemith: Sonate Nr. 2 für Violine solo. Solisten: Albert Mangelsdorff (trb), Alois Kottmann (vl), Bruno Suys (kb). Melisma 7239-2, Oestrich-Winkel.
Joseph Haydn: Die sieben letzten Worte des Erlösers am Kreuz. Mit Zwischentexten von Peter Härtling. Rezitation Karlheinz Böhm. Melisma 7016-2, Oestrich-Winkel.
Georg Friedrich Händel: Der Messias. Ausführende: Sharon Markovich (Sopran). Hildegard Laurich (Alt), Adalbert Kraus (Tenor), Ernst Gerold Schramm (Bass), Figuralchor des Hessischen Rundfunks, Alois Ickstadt (Dirigent). Melisma 6046, Oestrich-Winkel.
Paul Hindemith: Trauermusik für Violine und Streicher; Richard Rudolf Klein: Canto für Violine und Streicher; Edvard Grieg: Aus Holbergs Zeit op. 40; Edward Elgar: Serenade op. 20; Samuel Barber: Adagio for Strings. Melisma 7098-2, Oestrich-Winkel.
Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy: Sinfonien Nr. 12 g-Moll und Nr. 9 c-Moll für Streichorchester. Melisma 7031-2, Oestrich-Winkel.
Joseph Haydn: Konzert C-Dur für Violine und Streichorchester; Sinfonie Nr. 88 G-Dur Hob. I: 88. Soloist: Alois Kottmann (vl). Melisma 7262, Oestrich-Winkel.
Joseph Haydn: Die Schöpfung. Oratorium für Soli, Chor und Orchester. Solisten: Dorothea Wirtz (Sopran), Adalbert Kraus (Tenor), Ernst Gerold Schramm (Bass), Figuralchor des Hessischen Rundfunks, Bläser des Frankfurter Opern- und Museumsorchesters, Alois Ickstadt (Dirigent). Melisma 706, Oestrich-Winkel.
Johann Sebastian Bach: Kantate Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben. BWV 147; Joseph Haydn: Missa in d-Moll in angustiis Hob. XXII:11 (Messe in der Bedrängnis, auch: Nelson-Messe). Ausführende: Ulrike Sonntag (Sopran), Alison Browner (Alt), Adalbert Kraus (Tenor), Ernst Gerold Schramm (Bass), Figuralchor des Hessischen Rundfunks, Alois Ickstadt (Dirigent). Melisma 726, Oestrich-Winkel.
Johann Sebastian Bach: Johannes-Passion BWV 245. Ausführende: Ulrike Sonntag (Sopran), Alison Browner (Alt), Adalbert Kraus (Tenor), Ernst Gerold Schramm (Bass), Figuralchor des Hessischen Rundfunks, Alois Ickstadt (Dirigent). Melisma 7058, Oestrich-Winkel.
Johann Sebastian Bach: Messe h-Moll BWV 232. Ausführende: Ulrike Sonntag (Sopran), Alison Browner (Alt), Adalbert Kraus (Tenor), Ernst Gerold Schramm (Bass), Figuralchor des Hessischen Rundfunks, Dirigent: Alois Ickstadt. Melisma 7023-2, Oestrich-Winkel.
Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy: Konzert d-Moll für Violine und Streicher; Richard Rudolf Klein: Canto für Violine und Streicher; Johanna Senfter: Konzert für zwei Violinen und Streichorchester c-Moll. Solisten: Alois Kottmann (vl), Boris Kottmann (vl). Melisma 7248-2, Oestrich-Winkel.
Ernest Bloch: Suite 1; Max Reger: Präludium und Fuge h-Moll op. 117/1; Eugène Ysaÿe: Sonate d-Moll (Ballade) op. 27 Nr. 3; Igor Strawinsky: Élégie; Johann Sebastian Bach: Sonate C-Dur BWV 1005. Soloist: Alois Kottmann (vl). Melisma 7100-2, Oestrich-Winkel.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Sinfonie A-Dur KV 201. Soloist: Alois Kottmann (vl). Peter Härtling spricht Texte aus Hindemiths Bach-Rede aus dem Jahr 1950. Paul Hindemith: Trauermusik für Violine solo und Streicher; Duette für zwei Violinen. Solisten: Alois Kottmann (vl), Boris Kottmann (vl); Johann Sebastian Bach: Chaconne aus der Partita d-Moll für Violine solo, BWV 1004. Soloist: Alois Kottmann. Melisma 7099-2, Oestrich-Winkel.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Missa C-Dur KV 317 Krönungsmesse Regina coeli, KV 127; Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy: Herr Gott, du bist unsere Zuflucht / Um unsrer Sünden willen; Joseph Rheinberger: Abendlied, Op. 69/3. Solisten: Ulrike Sonntag (Sopran), Alison Browner (Alt), Adalbert Kraus (Tenor), Ernst Gerold Schramm (Bass), Figuralchor des Hessischen Rundfunks, Alois Ickstadt (Dirigent). Melisma 7035, Oestrich-Winkel.
Robert Schumann: Sonate a-Moll op. 105; Sonate d-Moll op. 121. Clara Schumann: Romanzen. Solisten: Alois Kottmann (vl), Günter Ludwig (p). Melisma 7101, Oestrich-Winkel.
Johannes Brahms: Sonate Nr. 1 G-Dur op. 78; Sonate Nr. 2 A-Dur op. 100; Sonate Nr. 3 d-Moll op. 108. Solisten: Alois Kottmann (vl), Günter Ludwig (p). Melisma 7102, Oestrich-Winkel.
César Franck: Sonate A-Dur; Max Reger: Sonate Nr. 2 D-Dur op. 3. Solisten: Alois Kottmann (vl), Günter Ludwig (p). Melisma 7018, Oestrich-Winkel.
Ferruccio Busoni: Sonate Nr. 2 c-Moll op. 36a; Gabriel Fauré: Sonate Nr. 1 A-Dur op. 13; Olivier Messiaen: Thème et variations. Solisten: Alois Kottmann (vl), Günter Ludwig (p). Melisma 7253, Oestrich-Winkel.
Gallus-Konzerte in der Barockkirche zu Flörsheim am Main. Werke von Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy, Joseph Rheinberger u. a. Opus 27035. Cappella Wiesbaden 1989
Gallus-Konzerte Flörsheim am Main. Werke von Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Dietrich Buxtehude, Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy, Johann Sebastian Bach, Joseph Haydn, Joseph Rheinberger u. a. Opus 27042. Cappella Wiesbaden 1990
40 Jahre Collegium Instrumentale Alois Kottmann – Polyphonie. Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy: Violinkonzert d-Moll; Richard Rudolf Klein: Canto für Violine und Streichorchester; Johanna Senfter: Konzert für 2 Violinen und Streichorchester c-Moll. Solisten: Alois Kottmann (vl), Boris Kottmann (vl). Melisma 6735519, Oestrich-Winkel.
