Biography
Max Raabe
Max Raabe was born in Lünen, Westphalia, in 1962. He was in third grade at school when he became fascinated by the operas of Richard Wagner. Beethoven´s 9th symphony virtually bowled him over. Later in boarding school this early love extended to that particular sound of the Golden 20s which was being played on radio, especially in form of the famous old recordings of the Comedian Harmonists. “Ich bin verrückt nach Hilde” (I´m Crazy About Hilde) was the first shellac record he found in his parent´s record cabinet, a funny quick fox, that at the same time had a sad aura.
Max Raabe & Palast Orchester
1986 Max Raabe and a few fellow students of the Berlin University of the Arts have the idea of founding an orchestra to revive the sound of the 20s. This act is followed by act 2: the search for musical material in archives, on flea markets and in curiosity shops. First rehearsals are held.
Cecilia Crisafulli
Our Venetian beauty Cecilia Crisafulli began playing violin at the age of 9. Venice´s music scene had a strong influence on Cecilia: her biggest hero, her Father; was violinist at the “La Fenice” Opera and her first studies were absolved at the conservatory Benedetto Marcello.
Sven Bährens
Sven´s career started at the age of 5 in very much the same way as that of many wood wind players: with the flute. In 1981 he participated in “Jugend Musiziert” (German contest for young musicians), a year later he began his studies as Orchestra Musician at The Berlin University of the Arts.
Bernd Hugo Dieterich
Bernd Hugo Dieterich felt drawn towards the deep fat sound of a bass at the age of 13. His fascination for Jazz and other kinds of improvised music lead to his becoming a professional musician. Bernd Hugo Dieterich studied at The Berlin University of the Arts and at the National Music School for Jazz in Graz with Wayne Darling.
Michael Enders
Michael Enders studied trumpet as Orchestra Musician with Prof. Fritz Wesenigk and Robert Platt of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra. During his studies Michael performed in a variety of orchestras:
Johannes Ernst
Contemporary serious music was the reason that Johannes Ernst decided to move to Berlin and study classical saxophone. Soon however, after an academic sojourn in Bordeaux, he took over the position of first altosax in the Palast Orchester.
Rainer Fox
The original Hamburger plays all saxophones, clarinet and flute, sings, composes, writes lyrics and produces. His sister´s guitar was the reason he started music in 1977. The 1970s with those legendary TV performances of big bands as well as
Bernd Frank
Born in 1971 he is one of the youngest in the orchestra and probably the most versatile: he works as saxophonist, studio musician, band leader, arranger, composer, producer and teacher. It goes without saying that he also has his own big band:
Ulrich Hoffmeier
Born on March 23 1957 into a musical family, he received his first guitar lessons from his father and older sisters. He learned the violin and to these two instruments added banjo and mandolin to make up the one-man string section of the family band. The group performed all over
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