Join us for an evening of extraordinary vocal artistry with acclaimed Austrian countertenor Alois Mühlbacher.
Mühlbacher has captivated audiences worldwide with his unmistakable voice, remarkable versatility, and deeply expressive stage presence. Together with distinguished pianist Elias Gillesberger, he presents a carefully curated recital spanning Baroque masterworks, Romantic Lieder, and contemporary compositions.
Music for a While promises an evening of exceptional emotional depth and musical refinement, bringing together centuries of vocal music in an intimate and compelling recital.
Doors open at 6:15 PM. The eventstarts at 7:00 PM and is followed by an Austrian wine reception.
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
Henry Purcell (1659-1695)
Music for a While
Georg Friedrich Händel (1685-1759)
Verdi prati (from Alcina)
Con rauco mormorio (from Rodelinda)
Fammi combattere (from Orlando)
Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741)
Vedrò con mio diletto (from Il Giustino)
Benjamin Britten (1913-1976)
Welcome Wanderer! (from A Midsummer Night’s Dream)
Matthias Drievko (*1969)
Mein süßes Lieb (My Sweet Beloved)
Franz Schubert (1797-1828)
Impromptu in A-flat major, Op. 142, No. 2
Der Tod und das Mädchen (Death and the Maiden)
Heidenröslein (The Wild Rose)
Anton Bruckner (1824-1896)
Mein Herz und deine Stimme (My Heart and Your Voice)
Gustav Mahler (1860-1911)
Urlicht (from Des Knaben Wunderhorn)
Um Mitternacht (from Rückert-Lieder)
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Alois Mühlbacher
© Image: Toni Suter
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.
Elias Gillesberger
© Image: Ulrich Gruchmann-Bernau
Born in Upper Austria, Elias Gillesberger studied piano with Clemens Zeilinger, chamber music with Christoph Eggner, and vocal accompaniment with Julius Drake. For many years, he has worked as a collaborative pianist, primarily with singers, including Angelika Kirchschlager, Clemens Unterreiner, Ildikó Raimondi, Herbert Lippert, Bastian T. Kohl, and Martin Summer. He works closely with soprano Martha Matscheko as a Lied duo. In addition, he regularly collaborates with renowned actors, including Sunnyi Melles, Marianne Sägebrecht, Petra Morzé, and Roland Koch.
As a soloist and chamber musician, he has performed throughout Europe at renowned concert halls and festivals, including the Musikverein Vienna, the Vienna Konzerthaus, the Brucknerhaus Linz, and the Austrian Cultural Forum London. Since 2024, Elias Gillesberger has been working as a répétiteur at the Anton Bruckner Institute of the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna, his adopted home.