Reflections on Professor Wolfgang Harrer’s Artistic Residency in Lviv
From May 6 to May 10, 2026, Lviv hosted the artistic residency of Austrian musician, conductor, double bassist, and educator Professor Wolfgang Harrer. The residency brought together five events across three cultural venues in the city.
The residency opened with a solo recital at the Mirror Hall of the Lviv National Opera. A special highlight of the evening was the sound of a historic double bass crafted in the 1750s by Viennese master Johannes Georgius Thir — an instrument that may once have been heard by Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, and Brahms. The recital featured piano accompaniment by Honored Artist of Ukraine Myroslav Drahan.
As part of the III International Art Forum of the Lviv National Music Academy, Professor Harrer conducted masterclasses in orchestral conducting and double bass performance. Young musicians worked on Beethoven and Brahms scores while exploring the traditions of the Viennese school, interpretation techniques, and sound production.
Another important event of the residency was an open lecture-discussion dedicated to the interpretation of Classical-era music. The maestro emphasized the importance of engaging not only with scores but also with original sources such as manuscripts, composers’ letters, and memoirs.
The residency concluded with a chamber music concert featuring students of the Solomiya Krushelnytska Lyceum and the Lviv chamber ensemble “Lux Sonorum.” Professor Harrer closely supported the preparation process, helping the performers explore the traditions and contextual nuances of Viennese chamber music. He was particularly moved by the works of Ukrainian composer Vasyl Barvinsky, recognizing their emotional depth and cultural uniqueness.
The residency became a meaningful platform for artistic dialogue between Austrian and Ukrainian musical traditions and opened new opportunities for cultural exchange and professional collaboration.
Special thanks to all organizers and partners who made these events possible — including the Lviv National Music Academy, Lviv National Opera, Lviv National Philharmonic, the Austrian Cooperation Office in Lviv, and Ukraine Office Austria.
Pictures by Andriy Pashkovskyi
