The twelve-piece ensemble known as the Palast Orchester emerged from the Berlin University of the Arts in 1985, founded by a baritone student obsessed with the dance music of the 1920s and 1930s. This collective spent a full year in private practice before securing their first public engagement at the 1987 Berliner Theaterball.
Foundations and Technique
Born Matthias Otto in Lünen in 1962, the artist initially pursued formal training as an opera singer. His aesthetic approach relied on finding original sheet music arrangements at flea markets, allowing the orchestra to recreate the specific timbre of a bygone era. By 1992, he established himself as a songwriter with the original composition Kein Schwein ruft mich an, which blended modern pop sensibilities with period-specific orchestration.
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The Palast Orchester distinguishes its repertoire by juxtaposing vintage arrangements with contemporary popular music. Beyond his original compositions, Raabe arranges and performs works by artists including ABBA, Britney Spears, Tom Jones, and Salt'n'Pepa. This stylistic synthesis continued with his collaborative albums produced with Annette Humpe, notably Küssen kann man nicht alleine in 2011 and the 2013 release Für Frauen ist das kein Problem.
Film and Stage Appearances
Raabe has maintained a parallel career as a film actor, frequently appearing as a 1920s-era entertainer. His filmography includes roles in Der bewegte Mann in 1994, Werner Herzog’s Invincible in 2001, and Die Reise ins Glück in 2004. On stage, he appeared in the 1994 Berlin production of The White Horse Inn and performed as Mack the Knife during the 1999 run of The Threepenny Opera.
Recognition and Later Work
Throughout his career, Raabe has received several honors, including the Berliner Bär in 2005, the Paul-Lincke-Ring in 2005, and the Order of Merit of Berlin in 2012. He remains active in the studio and on screen, appearing in the 2022 neo-noir television series Babylon Berlin to perform the single Ein Tag wie Gold, while continuing to release albums such as Mir is so nach dir in 2023.
Fast facts
- Born: 1962, Lünen, Germany
- Founder: Palast Orchester
- Education: Berlin University of the Arts
- Awards: Paul-Lincke-Ring (2005), Order of Merit of Berlin (2012)
- Notable Song: Kein Schwein ruft mich an (1992)
- Stage Role: Mack the Knife, The Threepenny Opera (1999)
Questions readers ask
What is the primary musical influence of Max Raabe?
He draws from German dance and film music of the 1920s and 1930s, including the style of the Comedian Harmonists.
Which modern artists has the Palast Orchester covered?
They have performed arrangements of songs by ABBA, Britney Spears, Tom Jones, and Salt'n'Pepa in their signature period style.
Achievements
- Order of Merit of Berlin — 2012
- Instruments: voice
- Genres: cabaret and swing
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