Gottlieb Wallisch

The Austrian pianist Gottlieb Wallisch has long aligned himself with Vienna’s storied musical heritage, programming Classical-era repertoire alongside contemporary scores while also establishing himself as an impresario and educator.

Born in Vienna on August 7, 1978, Wallisch came from a musical family whose members included the noted composer Johann Nepomuk David, his great-uncle. Displaying prodigious talent early on, he gained entry at the age of six to the gifted-children’s program at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna, becoming the institution’s youngest enrollee. His first public appearance in the Austrian capital took place when he was seven. Subsequent studies brought him into contact with Heinz Medjimorec in Vienna, Pascal Devoyon at the University of the Arts in Berlin, and Jacques Rouvier in Paris.

A first-prize win at the Stravinsky Awards International Piano Competition for young performers in the United States attracted notice, as did his debut at the Wiener Musikverein at age twelve. Wallisch’s formal orchestral debut occurred in 1996 under Yehudi Menuhin; later collaborations placed him before such conductors as Giuseppe Sinopoli, Kirill Petrenko, and Bruno Weil. Active as a chamber musician, he has appeared with the Artis Quartett and Julian Rachlin, among others, and has consistently championed contemporary works. In 2008 he participated in the world premiere of Sebastian Themessl’s Trio for piano, violin and metronome at the European Forum held in the Austrian town of Alpbach. Within German-speaking countries he has been one of the principal advocates for the music of American composer George Antheil.

Wallisch maintains a prominent presence on Central European festival circuits, having performed at the Salzburg Festival, Beethovenfest Bonn, and the Ruhr Piano Festival. He is listed among the artists represented by Steinway Artists in the United States. His recordings, issued on Naxos, Linn, and Alpha, include a 2018 Alpha release of the seldom-heard piano transcription of Beethoven’s Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 61.

In addition to maintaining an active performing schedule, Wallisch has taught at the University of the Arts in Berlin and at the Geneva Conservatory. He is a co-founder of both the Austro-Armenian Music Festival in Yerevan, Armenia, and, together with Themessl, the International Summer Academy Lans in Austria’s Tyrol region.