From Weimar to Vienna: Wally Hase Reflects on an International Career
Wally Hase became principal flutist of the Staatskapelle Weimar at the age of 22 and has been Professor of Flute at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna since 2018. Alongside her teaching, she performs worldwide as a soloist and chamber musician and collaborates with renowned ensembles such as Camerata Salzburg, Cappella Andrea Barca, and the Staatskapelle Dresden. Numerous CD and radio recordings, as well as her international jury and masterclass activities, complete her artistic profile.
Can you give us 5 career highlights?
At the age of 17, I won my first audition with the Stuttgart State Orchestra for a one-year contract. That opportunity opened many doors – to ensembles such as the Bach Collegium Stuttgart and the Ludwigsburg Festival Orchestra – and marked the beginning of a time filled with concerts and travels around the world.
When I was 22, I won the position of principal flute with the Staatskapelle Weimar, a milestone that allowed me to grow both musically and personally.
At 30, I was appointed Professor of Flute at the Franz Liszt University of Music in Weimar, later invited as a guest professor at the University of Music in Kraków, and since 2018 I have been serving as University Professor at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna – a role that continues to inspire me every day.
A very special highlight of my career has been the dedication of works written for me by composers such as Tilmann Dehnhard and Doina Rotaru. These personal connections through music are a true gift.
Chamber music with many wonderful colleagues has always been an essential part of my artistic life – too many to name individually. A particular highlight, however, has been the duo concerts with the exceptional pianist Elisabeth Leonskaja, as well as numerous performances of Bach’s Triple Concerto and the Brandenburg Concertos with Sir András Schiff.
How about 3 pivotal moments that were essential to creating the artist that you've become?
Learning to fully trust my flute taught me to share my emotions directly with the audience – a gift that feels especially precious in difficult times.
Meeting Aurèle Nicolet opened my eyes to new ways of understanding sound, expression, and what it truly means to be a musician.
And stepping into teaching myself showed me the joy of sharing knowledge while strengthening my own musical voice.
What do you like best about teaching? Masterclasses?
What I love most is the exchange with young musicians - working together on expression, Each brings their own story, their own individual sound and body resonance: the soul of the flute that makes it vibrate. But the most wonderful thing of all, of course, is talking about music - discussing it, understanding the composers' influences, whether shaped by their living conditions, the political situation, and so on.
What do you like best about performing?
The stage is a place of freedom. Live music creates a moment that can never be repeated in the same way. I love the intensity and the risk of that. What moves me most, however, is the possibility to share my emotions with the audience. In those moments, music becomes more than sound – it becomes a dialogue, a shared experience that connects us beyond words
CD releases?
I have recorded many CDs, but I notice more and more often that many people no longer even have a CD player. That’s why I now also record videos for my YouTube channel and share live concert recordings.
What does your schedule look like for the next 6 months?
I have a number of exciting projects ahead. With my Trio Lobkowitz Wien, I’ll be performing several chamber music concerts and releasing new recordings on my YouTube channel. I’m also very much looking forward to touring Europe and Asia with Sir András Schiff and the Cappella Andrea Barca.
In addition, I’ll be performing many concerts and going on a South America tour with the wonderful Camerata Salzburg. Alongside these performances, I’ll be giving masterclasses and participating in festivals in places such as Taipei, Bangkok, Spain, Germany and the Salzburger Festspiele.
But beyond all of that, the most important part of my work remains my students at the University of Vienna.
What are your goals personally? Professionally?
My goal is to combine my passion for work with a mindful balance in my personal life – creating space for new experiences that enrich me both professionally and personally.
What inspires you the most in life?
Encounters with different people, travel, music and the magic that emanates from it, the sea
What has been your greatest challenge?
My biggest challenge is to support my students not only in building their careers but also in shaping a fulfilled life. For me, this means strengthening their individuality and encouraging them to have the courage to follow their own path.
Who were your music mentors? and what did you learn from them?
My most influential teachers included Karl-Friedrich Mess in my youth, and later Aurèle Nicolet and Jean-Claude Gérard. I learned a great deal from them – sometimes very different, even contradictory things – and this has profoundly shaped my „teaching philosophy“. There are many ways to achieve one’s goal, and no single path is the only right one. Imagination is crucial for creating music. My motto is: you can only be as good as your imagination allows.
Can you give us 5 quirky, secret, fun, (don't think too much about this) hobbies or passions?
coffee, archery, scubadiving, books & films and museums, travel
What 3 things would you offer as advice for a young flutist?
- Don’t be afraid of making mistakes, they are also important experiences
- Love yourself, and treat yourself with kindness
- Listen to as much music as you can, not just flute music
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