Music for a While: Alois Mühlbacher
Images: Alexander Eder
September 16, 2026 | 6:30 PM
TICKETS AVAILABLE IN DUE COURSE
Join us for an extraordinary evening of vocal artistry as we welcome acclaimed Austrian countertenor Alois Mühlbacher for Music for a While, accompanied by distinguished Austrian pianist Elias Gillesberger. Mühlbacher is a sought-after countertenor and has captivated audiences worldwide with his unmistakable voice, remarkable versatility, and deeply expressive stage presence. Together with Gillesberger, he presents a carefully curated recital spanning Baroque masterworks, Romantic Lieder, and modern compositions, offering a program of exceptional emotional depth and musical refinement.
About the Concert
Alois Mühlbacher
Born in Upper Austria, Alois Mühlbacher started his musical career with the renowned St. Florian Boys’ Choir and made his debut at the Vienna State Opera at the age of fifteen. Since then, he has established himself as one of the leading countertenors of his generation, performing on prestigious stages throughout Europe and beyond.
In 2024, Mühlbacher made his debut at La Scala in Händel’s Alcina with Marc Minkowski and Les Musiciens du Louvre, following performances across Europe. In 2025, he debuted at Opernhaus Zürich in Händel’s Agrippina under Harry Bicket and appeared at the Bayreuth Baroque Opera Festival in Cavalli’s Pompeo Magno. Later that year, he performed the title role in Gordon Kampe’s Ich bin Vincent! und ich habe keine Angst at the Theater an der Wien, a performance that inspired a dedicated documentary by ORF.
A versatile artist with a uniquely warm and flexible vocal timbre, Mühlbacher has cultivated a repertoire far broader than what is traditionally associated with countertenors. His recording Urlicht was nominated for the Opus Klassik Award in 2023. Together with longtime collaborator Franz Farnberger, he co-founded the early music ensemble PALLIDOR, whose debut recording Broken Eyes was released in 2025. Since 2024, Mühlbacher has also served as artistic director of the Barockfestival St. Pölten.
He studied acting in Linz and later pursued vocal studies at the Music and Arts University of the City of Vienna (MUK) and the Royal Academy of Music. Image: Toni Suter
Elias Gillesberger
Born in Upper Austria, Elias Gillesberger is an acclaimed collaborative pianist whose work has made him a sought-after partner for singers, instrumentalists, and actors alike. He has collaborated with renowned vocal artists including Angelika Kirchschlager, Clemens Unterreiner, Ildikó Raimondi, Herbert Lippert, and Martin Summer, and maintains a close artistic partnership with soprano Martha Matscheko.
As a soloist, chamber musician, and accompanist, Gillesberger has performed at many of Austria’s most prestigious venues and festivals, including the Musikverein, Vienna Konzerthaus, Brucknerhaus Linz, the Austrian Cultural Forum in London, and the International Bruckner Festival Linz.
His extensive experience as a répétiteur has led to engagements with major institutions including the Vienna State Opera, the Bruckner Orchestra Linz, and the Landestheater Linz. Gillesberger studied piano with Clemens Zeilinger, chamber music with Christoph Eggner, and vocal accompaniment with Julius Drake.
Since 2024, he has served as répétiteur at the Anton Bruckner Institute of the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna. Image: Reinhard Winkler 