Rainer Bischof's major work deals with the unification of music and philosophy.
He studied philosophy and art history at the University of Vienna, where he received his doctorate in 1973 with the dissertation "The aporia of ontologically beautiful and technically beautiful". In addition, he studied composition at the Vienna University of Music and Performing Arts and privately with Hans Erich Apostel.
Bischof wrote numerous works on philosophy and musical aesthetics and is committed to the Second Viennese School as a composer. His works include compositions for solo instruments, chamber music, songs and choral works, an opera and several orchestral works, in which he is particularly influenced by Anton Webern, Alban Berg and Hans Erich Apostel.
Being human is not a question of morality or religion, but of possibility as a condition.
Rainer Bishop
Rainer Bischof acted as President of the Austrian Composers' Association, taught philosophy and aesthetics at the University of Music in Vienna, composition at the Vienna Conservatory and gave numerous guest lectures at international universities such as New Orleans, Valencia, Medellin and Buenos Aires. He is visiting professor at the New Bulgarian University Sofia. He was Vice President of the Alban Berg Foundation and from 1991-2015 President of the International Gustav Mahler Society, today Honorary President.
As an art manager, Rainer Bischof was appointed head of the artistic operations office of the Wiener Konzerthausgesellschaft in 1978. From 1984 he headed the theater department and was a musical advisor to the Wiener Festwochen. In addition, he took over the music department and was the intern of the Vienna Music Summer.
In 1988 Bischof was appointed Secretary General of the Vienna Symphony Orchestra, a position he held until 2005.
Rainer Bischof was awarded the Medal of Merit of the Association of Adult Education Centers (1983), the Austrian Cross of Honor for Science and Art (1993), the Ring of Honor of the Bregenz Festival (1997) and the Austrian Cross of Honor 1st Class (1999). He is a passionate cook and was a dog handler for the Austrian rescue dog brigade.
