David Bergmüller Baroque lute

David Bergmüller is acknowledged as one of the most interesting lutenists of his generation and is acclaimed for his “virtuosic lyricism” (Tiroler Tageszeitung) and “extremely subtle and intoxicating playing” (Liechtensteiner Volksblatt).

During his studies in Stefan Hackl’s guitar class he became fascinated by the lute. He studied with Hopkinson Smith and Rolf Lislevand. After graduating from the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis and the Hochschule für Musik Trossingen, he became one of the youngest ever appointed music professors in 2018, teaching lute at Hochschule für Musik und Tanz Köln. David Bergmüller is the first lute player to win the Franz Aumann Prize at the International H.I.F. Biber Competition. With his ensemble Sferrania he was nominated for the German Music Critics' Prize in the genre “Grenzgänger” (crossing the border).

David Bergmüller has performed at venues including the Wigmore Hall, Berliner Philharmonie, Köllner Philharmonie, Vienna Konzerthaus, Vienna Musikverein, Tonhalle Zürich, Alte Oper Frankfurt. He has appeared as a soloist at the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival, Oude Muziek Utrecht, Bozar Brussels, 20 fast forward, Schubertiade Hohenems, Innsbrucker Festwochen der Alten Musik, Barocktage Melk, Wien Modern and LIGITA Liechtensteiner Gitarrentage.

He has collaborated extensively with Maurice Steger, Avi Avital, David Orlowsky, Sergio Azzolini, Hille Perl and Rolf Lislevand and with Zürcher Kammerorchester, Ensemble Resonanz and Bach Consort Wien, among others. David Bergmüller has released numerous recordings of early, contemporary and electronic music.

Not only does he play his own compositions for his instruments, combining acoustic with electronic music, but he is also the dedicatee of numerous contemporary works by composers including Pia Palme, Arturo Fuentes, Gilad Hochman, Manuel Durauo and Franz Bauer.

As a sought-after basso continuo player he has performed with such renowned ensembles as Concentus Musicus Wien, Collegium 1704, I Baroccisti, La Cetra Barockorchester, Barucco and Ars Antiqua Austria and has worked in opera productions at Theater an der Wien, Staatsoper Hannover, Opera de Lille, Grand Théâtre de la Ville de Luxembourg, Theater Bonn, Nationaltheater Mannheim and The Bolshoi Theatre Moscow.

Forthcoming engagements include concerts at Verbier Festival, Philharmonie Essen, Innsitu: BTV Innsbruck, West Cork Music Festival, Grafenegg Festival, Shakespear Festival Neuss, Köthener Bachfesttage, MITO Settembre Musica etc.