Ludwig Hirsch
Encyclopedia
Ludwig Hirsch was an Austrian singer/songwriter and actor.
, Styria, grew up in the Leopoldstadt
district of Vienna
and first studied graphic arts at the University of Applied Arts Vienna
, but switched to the Krauss drama school. He made his stage debut in 1973 at the municipal theater in Regensburg
. From 1975-1979 he was a member of the ensemble of the Theater in der Josefstadt
.
In 1978 Hirsch launched his career as a singer-songwriter and became known for his critical, macabre, and morbid lyrics. He is known as an outstanding representative of Austropop
. In some of his works he lends modern interpretations to traditional Viennese songs (for example, the 1834 Hobellied).
In 1991 and 1992 Hirsch appeared before sold-out crowds of 200,000 spectators with his Gottlieb-Tournee, playing his most famous songs worked together into an interesting story. He often tours with guitarist Johann M. Bertl.
Hirsch's studio album Perlen (Pearls) achieved gold status in Austria and for it he was awarded the Amadeus Austrian Music Award, the highest Austrian popular music prize. His newest album, In Ewigkeit Damen, appeared in 2006. He has also hosted the radio program Siesta for the Austrian broadcaster Hitradio Ö3
.
In 1977 Hirsch married actress Cornelia Köndgen and had one son with her.
In September 1993, the Austrian Post honored Hirsch with a 5 1/2 schilling stamp. In 2001 he was awarded a silver medal for service to the City of Vienna, and was made a "Golden citizen" of the city of Vienna.
On November 24, 2011 Hirsch committed suicide, by jumping from a window
at Wilhelminenspital, a major hospital in Vienna
. He was 65.
Life and Work
Hirsch was born in Sankt Magdalena am LembergSankt Magdalena am Lemberg
Sankt Magdalena am Lemberg is a municipality in the district of Hartberg in Styria, Austria....
, Styria, grew up in the Leopoldstadt
Leopoldstadt
Leopoldstadt is the 2nd municipal District of Vienna . There are inhabitants over . It is situated in the heart of the city and, together with Brigittenau , forms a large island surrounded by the Danube Canal and, to the north, the Danube. It is named after Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor...
district of Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
and first studied graphic arts at the University of Applied Arts Vienna
University of Applied Arts Vienna
The University of Applied Arts Vienna is an institution of higher education in Vienna, the capital of Austria. It has had university status since 1970.-History:...
, but switched to the Krauss drama school. He made his stage debut in 1973 at the municipal theater in Regensburg
Regensburg
Regensburg is a city in Bavaria, Germany, located at the confluence of the Danube and Regen rivers, at the northernmost bend in the Danube. To the east lies the Bavarian Forest. Regensburg is the capital of the Bavarian administrative region Upper Palatinate...
. From 1975-1979 he was a member of the ensemble of the Theater in der Josefstadt
Theater in der Josefstadt
The Theater in der Josefstadt is a theater in Vienna in the eighth district of Josefstadt. It was founded in 1788 and is the oldest still performing theater in Vienna...
.
In 1978 Hirsch launched his career as a singer-songwriter and became known for his critical, macabre, and morbid lyrics. He is known as an outstanding representative of Austropop
Austropop
Austropop is a musical movement, which started in Austria in the middle of the 1970s. However, Austropop is not much of a specific style, it is more a trademark of origin, because musicians of various styles, such as rock, Neue Deutsche Welle, New Folk and more recently perhaps Pop, are counted as...
. In some of his works he lends modern interpretations to traditional Viennese songs (for example, the 1834 Hobellied).
In 1991 and 1992 Hirsch appeared before sold-out crowds of 200,000 spectators with his Gottlieb-Tournee, playing his most famous songs worked together into an interesting story. He often tours with guitarist Johann M. Bertl.
Hirsch's studio album Perlen (Pearls) achieved gold status in Austria and for it he was awarded the Amadeus Austrian Music Award, the highest Austrian popular music prize. His newest album, In Ewigkeit Damen, appeared in 2006. He has also hosted the radio program Siesta for the Austrian broadcaster Hitradio Ö3
Hitradio Ö3
Hitradio Ö3 is one of the national radio stations of Austria's state-run broadcaster ORF.The station focuses on contemporary music. Until 1995 its schedules included many specialist music shows, but following a reorganization of ORF's channels shortly before the introduction in Austria of private...
.
In 1977 Hirsch married actress Cornelia Köndgen and had one son with her.
In September 1993, the Austrian Post honored Hirsch with a 5 1/2 schilling stamp. In 2001 he was awarded a silver medal for service to the City of Vienna, and was made a "Golden citizen" of the city of Vienna.
On November 24, 2011 Hirsch committed suicide, by jumping from a window
Jumper (suicide)
A jumper, in police and media parlance, is a person who dies by suicide by jumping from a height, or people who have jumped, then survived, often with major injuries and permanent disabilities...
at Wilhelminenspital, a major hospital in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
. He was 65.