Tobias Wögerer

When were you first enchanted by (musical) theatre in your life? And what was it that enchanted you?

When I saw The Magic Flute for Children at the Vienna State Opera at around the age of 12, I was particularly impressed by the beautiful building. However, even then I was fascinated by how many different elements come together in an opera performance: orchestra, singing, acting, costumes, stage design... This fascination has since developed into a great passion for musical theatre.

Why do people sing and why don't they speak?

Singing touches our hearts and evokes emotions that even the most beautiful language cannot achieve. There is nothing more to add to Victor Hugo's famous quote: ‘Music (singing) expresses what cannot be said and what is impossible to remain silent about.’

What role can/should musical theatre play in today's society?

I see musical theatre as a mirror of our society and our problems. The themes and content of these masterpieces are omnipresent and transferable to our times. Musical theatre should help us to better understand these problems, to look at them from a different perspective and, ideally, even help us to find solutions. At the same time, however, it can also be a wonderful way to detach oneself from reality, immerse oneself in another world and be enchanted by it. The diverse power of musical theatre can be used, understood and absorbed by each person individually. That is why musical theatre is so important.

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Born in

Linz (Austria)

Education

Vienna (Cello), Weimar & Zürich (Conducting)

Important Engagements

Assistant conductor of the Gustav Mahler Youth Orchestra, living room concert of the Vienna Symphony Orchestra, assistant at the Bavarian State Opera, concerts with the Bruckner Orchestra Linz, concerts with the Tonkünstler Orchestra Lower Austria 

Debut and important works at Volksoper Wien

Since 2022/23 Conductor and since 2024 Conductor in Residence at Volksoper Wien

Debut: La Cage aux Folles (Season 2022/23)

Further Works: Orpheus in der Unterwelt, Die Zauberflöte, Cabaret, Die lustige Witwe, La traviata, The Sound of Music, Le nozze di Figaro, Hänsel und Gretel, Die Fledermaus, Carmen, West Side Story, ... 

Significant prizes and honours

1st prize in the MDR Symphony Orchestra competition

2023: Finalist in the Herbert von Karajan Young Conductors Award

Other

He made his debut conducting the Vienna Symphony Orchestra in December 2020 and has been assistant conductor of the Gustav Mahler Youth Orchestra since the 2018/19 season. 

Website

https://www.tobiaswoegerer.com/

* Use of the photograph (© Leherbauer) solely for the purpose of current reporting on the Vienna Volksoper.