David Bergmüller, lute
Although one of the most distinguished lutenists in Europe, David Bergmüller began his career on the classical guitar. With subtle interpretations and compositions of early music, contemporary and electronic music, the Tyrolean has become a sought-after soloist and continuo player who has created a new cosmos of sound for the lute. After teaching in Graz, he was appointed as one of the youngest music professors at the University of Music and Dance in Cologne in 2018.
Border crossers on the lute
Acknowledged for his “virtuosic poetry” (Tiroler Tageszeitung) and “extraordinarily subtle and intoxicating playing” (Liechtensteiner Volksblatt), David Bergmüller is regarded as one of the most adventurous and exciting lutenists of his generation. He is committed to creating a new legacy for the lute. His approach is to bridge the gap between historically informed/inspired practice and contemporary performance.
David Bergmüller has performed at venues including the Wigmore Hall, Philharmonie Berlin, Philharmonie Cologne, Vienna Konzerthaus, Vienna Musikverein, Zurich Tonhalle, Alte Oper Frankfurt. He has appeared as a soloist at the Schleswig Holstein Music Festival, Utrecht Ode Musik Festival, Bozar Brussels, 20 fast forward, Schubertiade Hohenems, Innsbrucker Festwochen der Alten Musik, Barocktage Melk, Wien Modern & LIGITA Liechtensteiner Gitarrentage.
He has collaborated extensively with Maurice Steger, Avi Avital, David Orlowsky, Sergio Assolini, Hille Perl & Rolf Lislevand and with ensembles ZKO- Zurich Chamber Orchestra, ensemble resonanz, Bach Consort Vienna & Company of music, 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 sounds, 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 Vienna, Collegium 1704, I Baroccisti, La Cetra Barockorchester, Barucco & 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.
David Bergmüller was the first lute player to win the Franz Aumann Preis at the HIF Biber Early Music Competition. With his ensemble sferraina he was nominated for Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik in the category “Grenzgänger” (breaking boundaries).
Born in Hall in Tirol/Austria in 1989 he began learning the guitar at the age of eight. During his time 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.
He is currently based in Vienna.
