Max Raabe & Palast Orchester

Max Raabe & Palast Orchester

Max Raabe & Palast Orchester is a German orchestra led by singer and bandleader Max Raabe. The group forms in 1986 and is based around recreating the sound of German dance and film music from the 1920s and 1930s. Its repertoire includes original compositions, film music and arrangements of well-known modern pop songs in an older band style.

Formation and membership

Raabe is born in Lünen in December 1962. He studies baritone opera singing at the Berlin University of the Arts from 1988 to 1995. The orchestra’s members include Ian Wekwerth, Thomas Huder, Jörn Ranke, Johannes Ernst, Sven Bährens, Paul Esslinger, Vincent Riewe, Bernd Hugo Dieterich, Rainer Fox, Ulrich Hoffmeier, Bernd Frank, Michael Enders, Cecilia Crisafulli, Fabio Duwentester, Alexander Linkenbach and Martin Schedler.

Early recognition and repertoire

The group’s career begins to gain attention with the Schlager Kein Schwein ruft mich an in 1992, a pop song presented in a 1920s style, and with the film Der bewegte Mann in 1994. Raabe also writes original material and makes covers of contemporary songs in the orchestra’s vintage style, including Britney Spears’ Oops!... I Did It Again.

Performances and other work

Raabe sometimes appears in opera roles. In 2005, he gives his first concert at Carnegie Hall in New York City, and he also performs at Marilyn Manson’s wedding on 3 December 2005.