Stefan Schweigert,

Principal Bassoon

Member since 1985-09-01

“Every day with music is a new attempt, and there is nothing that’s carved in stone. It’s the moment that counts!”

Stefan Schweigert is principal bassoon of the Berliner Philharmoniker since 1985. The musician, who was born in Kaiserslautern, also appears as a soloist, was a member of the Scharoun Ensemble Berlin for twelve years and performed regularly with the Chamber Orchestra of Europe. He also appeared several times at Gidon Kremer’s Lockenhaus Festival and at Lars Vogt’s chamber music festival “Spannungen” at Kraftwerk Heimbach. In addition to his work with the Berliner Philharmoniker, Stefan Schweigert also performs with András Schiff’s ensemble Cappella Andrea Barca and Sabine Meyer’s wind ensemble.

He found his way to the bassoon more or less by chance: “Actually, I have my music teacher to thank for that, because he needed a bassoon for our school orchestra.” When Schweigert began his studies with Klaus Thunemann at the University of Music in Hanover, he was already a member of the National Youth Orchestra of Germany. He has taught at the Karajan Academy of the Berliner Philharmoniker since 1987 and is also a professor at the University of Music in Freiburg. Stefan Schweigert gives master classes in Germany, Spain, Japan and the US: “It’s normal for us to give each other something that inspires us. No one can achieve anything on their own without inspiration.”