Vienna Meets New York: Dominik Wagner & Mark Livshits in Concert
Images: Maria Frodl
June 16, 2026 | 6:30 PM
TICKETS AVAILABLE IN DUE COURSE
Join us for an exceptional evening as we present internationally acclaimed Austrian double bassist Dominik Wagner, joined by pianist Mark Livshits, in a program that bridges European tradition and American musical flair. The two artists previously performed together at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall in 2022, when Wagner made his American debut. Spanning Baroque elegance, Romantic virtuosity, and iconic American repertoire, the concert highlights the remarkable expressive range of the double bass.
About the Concert
The evening opens with Johann Sebastian Bach’s elegant Gamba Sonata in D major, BWV 1028, a work of clarity, balance, and expressive depth. The program continues with Frank Proto’s virtuosic A Carmen Fantasy, a dazzling showpiece inspired by Bizet’s famous opera. Further highlights include Camille Saint-Saëns’ energetic Danse bacchanale, bursting with rhythmic vitality and dramatic color, and George Gershwin’s legendary Rhapsody in Blue, an iconic work that merges classical tradition with the spirit of American jazz.
About the Artists
Dominik Wagner
Born in Vienna in 1997, Dominik Wagner is one of the leading double bassists of his generation. An ECHO Klassik and OPUS Klassik Award winner, he is celebrated for his virtuosity, lyrical tone, and charismatic stage presence, championing the double bass as a compelling solo instrument. Wagner has performed in major venues including the Musikverein Vienna, Berlin Philharmonie, Elbphilharmonie Hamburg, and Carnegie Hall in New York. As a soloist, he has appeared with ensembles such as the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, WDR Symphony Orchestra, Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen, Camerata Salzburg, and the Zurich Chamber Orchestra. A laureate of prestigious competitions including the ARD International Music Competition and Eurovision Young Musicians, he is also a scholarship holder of the Anne-Sophie Mutter Foundation. Since 2023, Wagner has served as Professor at the University of Music Würzburg and, since October 2024, also holds a professorship at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna (mdw).
Mark Livshits
GRAMMY-nominated pianist Mark Livshits is a sought-after soloist and chamber musician based in Philadelphia. He regularly performs with members of the Philadelphia Orchestra and has appeared at major venues and festivals including the Salzburg Festival, the Shanghai Oriental Arts Center, the Bilbao Philharmonic Society, and Carnegie Hall. Livshits has collaborated with renowned artists such as Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Michael Tilson Thomas, Leonidas Kavakos, and Christoph Eschenbach, among others. In addition to his performing career, he serves as Faculty Accompanist at the McDuffie Center for Strings, Staff Pianist at the University of Delaware, and teaches at the Philadelphia International Music Festival and Franklin & Marshall College. Image: Courtesy of the Artist.