Lore Lorentz
Encyclopedia
Lore Lorentz was a German cabaret artist/standup comedian.
She was born in Mährisch-Ostrau in Austria-Hungary
(today Ostrava
in the Czech Republic
), as Lore Schirner. She studied history, German literature and philosophy in Berlin
and Vienna
. In Berlin she met Kay Lorentz, who became her husband in 1944.
Together they founded the famous "Kom(m)ödchen
" in Düsseldorf
in 1947. It was one of the first political cabarets in Western Germany after the Second World War.
Until 1983 Lore and Kay Lorentz were not only the heads of the Kommödchen, they were part of the ensemble at the same time.
From 1983, she started with solo programs. One of her most famous programs consisted exclusively of texts written by Heinrich Heine
; even though he had written them more than a century before Lorentz' program was performed, they all referred to current topics.
Starting 1976 she taught at the chanson
and music
at Folkwang Hochschule.
She received several prizes:
Kay and Lore Lorentz rejected the Bundesverdienstkreuz
(Federal Cross of Merit) in 1976.
She died in 1994 in Düsseldorf of pneumonia.
On Audio CD:
She was born in Mährisch-Ostrau in Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary , more formally known as the Kingdoms and Lands Represented in the Imperial Council and the Lands of the Holy Hungarian Crown of Saint Stephen, was a constitutional monarchic union between the crowns of the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary in...
(today Ostrava
Ostrava
Ostrava is the third largest city in the Czech Republic and the second largest urban agglomeration after Prague. Located close to the Polish border, it is also the administrative center of the Moravian-Silesian Region and of the Municipality with Extended Competence. Ostrava was candidate for the...
in the Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
), as Lore Schirner. She studied history, German literature and philosophy in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
and Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
. In Berlin she met Kay Lorentz, who became her husband in 1944.
Together they founded the famous "Kom(m)ödchen
Kom(m)ödchen
The Komödchen is a cabaret stage in Düsseldorf.The Komödchen was created in 1947 as a political-literary cabaret by Kay and Lore Lorentz. Other participants in the initial program "Positiv dagegen", which had its premiere on March 29, 1947, were Werner Vielhaber, Bernd Nesselhut, Hans Walter...
" in Düsseldorf
Düsseldorf
Düsseldorf is the capital city of the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia and centre of the Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan region.Düsseldorf is an important international business and financial centre and renowned for its fashion and trade fairs. Located centrally within the European Megalopolis, the...
in 1947. It was one of the first political cabarets in Western Germany after the Second World War.
Until 1983 Lore and Kay Lorentz were not only the heads of the Kommödchen, they were part of the ensemble at the same time.
From 1983, she started with solo programs. One of her most famous programs consisted exclusively of texts written by Heinrich Heine
Heinrich Heine
Christian Johann Heinrich Heine was one of the most significant German poets of the 19th century. He was also a journalist, essayist, and literary critic. He is best known outside Germany for his early lyric poetry, which was set to music in the form of Lieder by composers such as Robert Schumann...
; even though he had written them more than a century before Lorentz' program was performed, they all referred to current topics.
Starting 1976 she taught at the chanson
Chanson
A chanson is in general any lyric-driven French song, usually polyphonic and secular. A singer specialising in chansons is known as a "chanteur" or "chanteuse" ; a collection of chansons, especially from the late Middle Ages and Renaissance, is also known as a chansonnier.-Chanson de geste:The...
and music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
at Folkwang Hochschule.
She received several prizes:
- 1981: Ehrenpreis des Deutschen Kleinkunstpreises
- 1986: Staatspreis des Landes Nordrhein-Westfalen
- 1989: Großer Kulturpreis der Sparkassenstiftung des Rheinischen Sparkassen- und Giroverbandes
Kay and Lore Lorentz rejected the Bundesverdienstkreuz
Bundesverdienstkreuz
The Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany is the only general state decoration of the Federal Republic of Germany. It has existed since 7 September 1951, and between 3,000 and 5,200 awards are given every year across all classes...
(Federal Cross of Merit) in 1976.
She died in 1994 in Düsseldorf of pneumonia.
On Audio CD:
- Denk ich an Deutschland (A cabaret evening with textes of Heinrich Heine). CD. ISBN 3-931265-00-5 (sold out)
- Chansons. CD. ISBN 3-931265-01-3
- Frivolitäten - 10 Diseusen - 10 Chansons. LP. Polydor J 73 555