In Memory of Josef Wallnig
We mourn the loss of one of the most influential figures at our University and, in particular, within the Department of Opera Studies. On 24 September 2026, the renowned conductor, passionate educator and Professor Emeritus Josef Wallnig passed away at the age of 80. With his passing, the world of music and our university community have lost a highly respected advocate for the music of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
A tribute from Univ.-Prof. Kai Röhrig on behalf of Mozarteum University Salzburg.
em. O. Univ. Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Josef Wallnig
22.6.1946–24.9.2026
Josef Wallnig, born in Salzburg in 1946, maintained a deep connection with the Mozarteum throughout his life. After studying piano, composition and conducting in Salzburg and Vienna and obtaining a doctorate in law, he embarked on a remarkable artistic career which took him, among other places, to the Vienna State Opera and the Salzburg Festival.
In 1980, he accepted a professorship at what was then the Mozarteum University of Music and Performing Arts. Over the course of several decades, he played a decisive role in shaping the education of talented young singers.
He headed the Departments of Vocal Studies and Opera Studies for many years and also contributed his expertise in his role as Vice-Chancellor of the University.
As founder and director of the Mozart Opera Institute (MOI), he set international standards in the practical study and interpretation of Mozart’s operatic works.
For his tireless commitment to international cultural exchange – including close cooperation with partner institutions in Lithuania and Asia – he received numerous prestigious honours, including an honorary doctorate from the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre.
Josef Wallnig understood better than almost anyone else how to bridge the gap between the meticulous rigour of musicology and a vibrant, captivating stage presence. His students valued him not only for his immense expertise and artistic integrity, but above all for his human warmth, his approachability and his ability to inspire enthusiasm. His legacy will live on in the countless artists he shaped and influenced around the world.
Mozarteum University will honour Josef Wallnig’s memory with respect and gratitude. Our deepest sympathies go out to his family and all those who knew him.
"Et lux perpetua luceat ei."
"With the passing of Josef Wallnig, we have lost an outstanding conductor, a dedicated university lecturer and a proven expert in Mozart’s operatic works. As Professor of Opera Performance and Head of the Opera Department, he shaped generations of students at the Mozarteum over many years, passing on to them his extensive artistic experience and his great passion for the opera stage.
Particular highlights of his career include the performance of Mozart’s Apollo et Hyacinthus and Die Schuldigkeit des ersten Gebots with students at the Salzburg Festival during the Mozart Year in 2006.
I held Josef Wallnig in very high regard personally. His artistic work, his teaching and his inspiring personality will remain in our grateful and lasting memory."
Hannfried Lucke
Univ.-Prof. of Organ and Vice-Rector for Arts at Mozarteum University Salzburg