David Bergmüller

Acknowledged for his “virtuoso lyricism” (Tiroler Tageszeitung) and his “exceptionally subtle and intoxicating playing” (Liechtensteiner Volksblatt), David Bergmüller is one of the most exciting and multifaceted lutenists of his generation. His virtuoso performances range from historically informed/inspired performance practice to new compositions for the lute.

In 2024, he celebrated his debut as musical director and conductor at the Theater an der Wien with his newly founded ensemble Proxima D. Upcoming highlights include play-conducting the Finnish Baroque Orchestra and concerts at the Musikverein Wien, Beethovenfest Bonn, Innsbrucker Festwochen der Alten Musik, Konzerthaus Berlin and Wigmore Hall London. With Proxima D he will perform at the Carinthischer Sommer and return to the Theater an der Wien.

His discography includes recordings in various genres such as Early Music (Rhétorique Du Silence 2023 & La Tournée de Monsieur Weichenberger 2026), Classical Crossover (Know Thyself 2025 & Alter Ego 2022) and Electronic Music (Wirbel 2023). He composes for his instruments himself and combines acoustic and electronic sounds. Numerous composers such as Pia Palme, Arturo Fuentes, Gilad Hochman, Ákos Banlaky & Manuel Durão have also written works for him.

As a soloist, he has appeared at the Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival, Verbier Festival, Gstaad Menuhin Festival, Bozar Brussels, Festival Oude Muziek Utrecht, Schubertiade Hohenems, Wiener Konzerthaus, Philharmonie Köln, Barocktage Melk, Wien Modern and LIGITA Liechtensteiner Gitarrentage. He works closely with musicians such as David Orlowsky, Janus Rasmussen, Maurice Steger, Avi Avital & Sergio Azzolini and with ensembles such as Concentus Musicus, Akamus Berlin, Collegium 1704 & Company of Music.

David Bergmüller was the first lutenist to win the Franz-Aumann Prize at the H.I.F. Biber Competition for Early Music. The album ALTER EGO with David Orlowsky received an Opus Klassik in 2023.

Born in 1989 in Hall in Tirol, Austria, he began learning the guitar at the age of eight. While still a student at the Tiroler Landeskonservatorium with Stefan Hackl, he discovered the lute. He went on to study with Hopkinson Smith and Rolf Lislevand. After graduating from the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis and the Hochschule für Musik Trossingen, he was appointed one of the youngest music professors at the Hochschule für Musik und Tanz Köln in 2018. Since 2023, he has been teaching at the Music and Arts University of the City of Vienna.