"Incredible Loss": Reactions to the Death of Otto Schenk

Below is a selection of the central reactions.

President Alexander Van der Bellen on X:

"A comedian is dead. One? No, the comedian par excellence, who fascinated us with his versatility, who made us laugh with his wit, who held up a mirror to us with the sharpness of his mind. (...) His presence was legendary, his punchlines hit the mark, his thoughts moved. He, as a witness of the 20th century, could report on the light and shadow sides of Austria like no other. His credibility was based as much on the modesty of opinion as on the ability to take a step back and ask questions instead of just knowing answers. (...) The comedian is dead. And far more than just this has gone with him."

Vice Chancellor and Minister of Culture Werner Kogler (Greens) on X:

"With Otto Schenk, one leaves the stage who truly deserved the predicate theatre legend. He has inspired generations of people, whether in theatre, film and television or as an opera director. I bow to a great one."

Theater in der Josefstadt Director Herbert Föttinger to the APA:

"We have lost one of the last truly great theatre people of the 20th century. He was not only a wonderful actor, an extraordinary drama and international opera director, he also had a natural talent to reach and touch the hearts of the audience. His death represents an incredible loss not only for the Josefstadt, but for the entire theatre landscape."

State Opera Director Bogdan Roščić in a statement:

"Otto Schenk is a significant, unforgettable chapter in the history of our theatre. But beyond that, he was an artist who shaped the theatre world for half a century like few others. As sacred as the theatre was to him, he approached the works with such naturalness and fearlessness, drawing from immense knowledge."

Salzburg Festival Director Markus Hinterhäuser in a press release:

"With the death of Otto Schenk, the theatre world loses one of its greatest figures, an exceptional artist, a true legend! One could not help but love Otto Schenk. Otto Schenk has shaped the Salzburg Festival in many ways over decades. As an actor, he was a stage event and a crowd favourite in the best sense of the word. As a director, he made theatre history and celebrated triumphs with audiences and critics. And as a member of the directorate, he successfully led the drama through the turbulent times of the last Karajan years."

Vienna's Mayor Michael Ludwig (SPÖ) in a press release:

"If anyone deserved the Viennese honorary title 'crowd favourite', it was 'the Otti'! (...) The Viennese theatre will be significantly poorer without him. Because no other stage star managed to create this unbroken symbiosis with 'his' audience to the same extent. The people of Vienna will never forget Otto Schenk!"

ORF Director General Roland Weißmann in a press release:

"Austria has lost its grand seigneur of the theatre and film scene today. (...) He has not only significantly shaped the stage and film life of the country for more than seven decades, but with his extensive work, he has also greatly enriched the programme bouquet of ORF and written television history."

Josefstadt Foundation Board Thomas Drozda to the APA:

"We have lost with Otto Schenk one of the greatest actors and directors this country has ever produced. But also a very special person. The Josefstadt is in deep mourning."

Son Konstantin Schenk to the APA:

"Austria loses with him a theatrical century genius with a universality that is unparalleled. From the sausage man to Wozzeck, from the things to laugh about to the Ring of the Nibelung, from the basement theatre to the Met and Scala Milano, from the Burgtheater via the Theater in der Josefstadt to the State Opera, his call resounds..."

FPÖ cultural spokesperson Thomas Spalt in a press release:

"As a versatile artist, Otto Schenk has left lasting traces as an actor, director and also as a theatre director, and has provided the Austrians with countless entertaining hours."

Upper Austria's Governor Thomas Stelzer in a press release:

"Otto Schenk was a true giant in the Austrian and international cultural scene, has thrilled the audience for decades with his humor as well as with his productions at the most important opera houses in the world. He was an extraordinary artistic personality."

Lower Austria's Governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner (ÖVP) in a press release:

"He was a world-class artist who never lost touch with the ground. Otto Schenk has played his way into the hearts of the audience and always met his counterpart at eye level."

(APA/Red)

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