Christoph Wimmer

Christoph Wimmer was born in 1983 in Steyr. Following initial lessons on the clarinet, he soon switched to double bass. He completed his studies with Anton Schachenhofer at the Anton Bruckner Private University in Linz. In addition, Christoph Wimmer participated in several masterclasses given by Johannes Auersperg, and gave his first solo concerts under conductors including Sándor Végh.

He gained valuable experience as a member of the Gustav Mahler Youth Orchestra and of the European Union Youth Orchestra. Early successes in competitions such as Prima la Musica provided him with an entry into the world of solo double bass playing. His musical career has included numerous solo performances, with the Bruckner Orchestra Linz among other groups, as well as intensive work as a chamber musician in various ensembles. 

In 2002 Christoph Wimmer undertook his first engagement with the Vienna Symphony Orchestra. Following a successful audition, he joined the orchestra of the Vienna State Opera in December 2003. He has been principal double bass there since January 2006; a year later he was accepted as a member of the Vienna Philharmonic. The Vienna Philharmonic was also the theme of his Master’s degree thesis, which examined the history of all the double bass players in the orchestra since it was founded in 1842. 

Together with the actress Katharina Stemberger he performs the staged programme ‘Bassgeflüster’, interpreting works by Johann Sebastian Bach, Franz Schubert, Giovanni Bottesini and Gioachino Rossini. The project is dedicated to revealing the beauty and individuality of the double bass – an instrument that for many music lovers only has a shadowy existence as an ‘orchestral rumble’. 

As a great lover of old Viennese double basses, Christoph Wimmer plays on instruments made by Johann Josef Stadlmann and Matthias Thir during the period between 1770 and 1800.