Walter Barylli, born on June 16, 1921, in Vienna, Austria, was a prominent Austrian violinist known for his significant contributions to classical music. He studied at the Vienna Music Academy under the tutelage of Franz Mairecker, Konzertmeister of the Wiener Philharmoniker, and furthered his studies in Munich with Florizel von Reuter. Von Reuter, recognizing Barylli's talent, invited him to live in his home to ease the financial burden on Barylli's family.

Barylli's career began to flourish in 1936 when he gave his first public solo performance in Munich and recorded in Berlin. Despite his early success as a soloist, the political climate of 1938 shifted his focus to orchestral work, leading him to join the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra as a Konzertmeister.

During World War II, Barylli formed the Barylli Quartet, which he re-established in 1945. The quartet became renowned for its performances at the Vienna Musikverein and the Salzburg Festivals, focusing on the works of Beethoven, Mozart, Schumann, Schubert, and Brahms. They collaborated with notable musicians such as Antoine de Bavier and Jörg Demus.

Barylli was twice awarded the Kreisler Prize by the City of Vienna. After retiring from performance in 1973, he dedicated himself to teaching at the City of Vienna Conservatory until 1986. He celebrated his 90th birthday in 2011 and is the father of actor and playwright Gabriel Barylli. Among his students was Robert W. Eshbach, a professor of violin at the University of New Hampshire. Walter Barylli passed away on October 1, 2022.