Prof. Walter Zeh

Bassist and choral director

Founder of the Vienna Philharmonic Choir

Born in Vienna, he studied at the Conservatory of the City of Vienna and at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna. In 1970 he was engaged by the Vienna State Opera where he remained for 32 years.

He has also appeared as a soloist at major opera houses, including the Bavarian State Opera in Munich, the Deutsche Oper Berlin, La Scala in Milan, the Gran Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona, the Opéra Bastille and the Palais Garnier in Paris, as well as at the Salzburg Easter and Summer Festivals and in Japan. His participation has also been appreciated in the field of songs and concert activities at home and abroad and in CD recordings with the most important conductors.

Already during his engagement at the Vienna State Opera house, he was interested in working with vocal ensembles and choirs. He founded various ensembles, such as the Herren Drei- und Viergesang (with annual performances in the pre-Christmas season in Austria and Israel), the Vokalensemble Frieden (in November 2002 at the Burgtheater in Vienna) and the Vokalensemble Concordia (in June 2003 with a historical serenade at Kreuzenstein Castle).

Since 1997 he has served as artistic director of the Chorvereinigung Wien Neubau. He is also active as a vocal coach and voice coach in opera productions, including at the Opéra Bastille, as well as at the Salzburg Summer Festival and the Easter Festival. As a freelance choral conductor, he has worked since 2002 on productions for the Festspielhaus Baden-Baden, the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées in Paris, the Ruhrtriennale, the Salzburg Summer Festival, the Musikfest Bremen, the Lucerne Festival, the Teatro Real in Madrid, the Konzerthaus Dortmund, the Festspielhaus St. Pölten and the Vienna Musikverein, among others.

In 2006 Walter Zeh founded the Vienna Philharmonic Choir.