Bernhard Hofstötter – baroque guitar (AUT)
Bernhard Hofstötter’s lute playing has been described as “adeptly combining technical ease with a masterful sense of phrasing” (Lute Society of America) and demonstrating “a refined rhythmic sensibility and understanding” (International Record Review). His recordings of the music of the 18th century lute virtuoso Silvius Leopold Weiss have been hailed as containing “some of the most sympathetic and beautiful Weiss-playing yet committed to disc” (Gramophone).
To date, Hofstötter has published six solo CDs which shine an imaginative and colourful light on the lesser known musical landscapes of the 17th and 18th centuries. His recordings on lute and baroque guitar have been met with international critical acclaim (e.g. 3 nominations for the International Classical Music Awards, 3 times winner of the Pasticcio Award on Austrian National Radio, 2 times winner of the French ResMusica Award, winner of the Global Music Awards 2019).
Bernhard Hofstötter was born in Vienna. Taking up the violin at the age of 5 he studied with Grete Biedermann and was a prize winner at the national “Jugend musiziert” competition in Austria. He read law at the universities of Vienna, Oslo, Leuven and St Gallen, at the same time receiving training as a lutenist with Luciano Còntini at the “Arrigo Pedrollo” Conservatory in Vicenza as well as at the Conservatory of Vienna.
Having attained his soloist diploma at the Royal Conservatory of The Hague, he received further musical impulse from Konrad Junghänel at Cologne University of Music as well as in master classes with Hopkinson Smith, Rolf Lislevand and Evangelina Mascardi. He completed his studies with Yasunori Imamura at Strasbourg Conservatory from which he graduated with great distinction (“mention très bien avec les félicitations du jury”).
His 2019 recording of works from the Lviv Lute Tablature was awarded the Global Music Awards (Gold medal) as well as the French ResMusica Award and was nominated for the International Classical Music Awards.