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Renate Holm

 

On 1st September 2014 the Golden Johann Strauss Award was given to the opera singer Renate Holm. In his keynote speech Prof. Peter Widholz, the President of the Johann Strauss Society of Vienna, described her as an exceptional artist, who has had four different careers, whereas her established singer colleagues have had only one. She started out with the aim of establishing herself as a Schlager singer in the genre of popular music, at a time when a classical music training was obligatory for Schlager singers. Her second career was that of a film actress and in 1957 Renate Holm first appeared as an operetta diva at the Vienna Volksoper. A few years later Herbert von Karajan offered her a permanent contract at the Vienna State Opera, which was the beginning of her career as an opera singer.

Her wide-ranging repertoire included classical opera, operettas and contemporary music, but throughout all the steps of her career the operetta was Renate Holm’s favourite genre. She even became associated with the role of Adele in Die Fledermaus by Johann Strauss, which she sang on the occasion of Queen Elizabeth’s and Prince Philip’s visit to Austria in 1969. According to Her Majesty’s words, Prince Philip was charmed by her performance. She also sang the role of Adele in Otto Schenk’s excellent TV production in 1972, a truly unique artistic achievement.

Although Renate Holm was born in Berlin, she has firmly dedicated herself to  the genre of the Viennese operetta and has become the epitome of Viennese charm. The President of the Johann Strauss Society of Vienna concluded his laudatory speech with a witty presentation of the Barinkay’s entrance song from the Zigeunerbaron, the lyrics of which he had changed and adapted for the award winner. Leopold Großmann, who had received the first Golden Johann Strauss Award the year before, accompanied him on the piano.

Hedwig Aigner Strauss, the head of the Strauss family, together with her granddaughter Elaine Joy, handed the Golden Johann Strauss statuette over to Renate Holm.

Renate Holm expressed her thanks not only with words, but also with a musical presentation: Some of her students delighted the guests with several songs in between the courses of the gala dinner. Fritz Brucker accompanied the young musicians on the piano. As the crowning conclusion Renate Holm and Peter Widholz joined the young singers and together they performed the drinking song from the second act of the Fledermaus. They were rewarded with rapturous applause by the great number of celebrities from the fields of art, culture and politics, Werner Fasslabend, the former President of the National Council, and Sandor Habsburg-Lothringen among them.

„It was an evening that brought great honour not only to Renate Holm, but also to Johann Strauss“, was the final tenor of this memorable event.

 

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