The story of “Hansl Schmid, the Last Master of the Viennese Songs” („Hansl Schmid, dem letzten Herrn des Wienerliedes“) shows that you can answer the question in a flexible way whether one should earn ones living with his/her creativity or whether one should live with his/her creativity and be successful without any super star contest.
In 1897 Johann Schmid was born in Ottaktring. Together with friends his parents rent the restaurant in the Türkenschanzpark. Johann grows up with concerts of military musicians, Deutschmeister, dragoons, 84er. 1908 his parents give him a piano and he becomes an opera lover: from Walküre till the Tote Stadt. Although very musical Johann studies at the commercial college. He becomes a merchant and works in a fig-coffee firm, later he is head of sales of Dolus-Shoe Polish. With the owner, a singing lover without the voice for singing who consoles himself with visiting opera and musical performances Schmid meets many stars like Jan Kiepura or Richard Tauber at his first evening. Schmid could sing and he did so – the Viennese Songs, at the Heurige (wine tavern) when everyone was singing. And then there is this historical moment – a day out in the Liebhartstal. Where he doesn’t sing because of holding the “house singer” Matauschek in high esteem. But Matauschek asks him to step forward and sing together with him. Schmid with much courage sings together with Matauschek in two voices the Ottakringer Marsch. “This was the birth of the Viennese Songs singer Hansl Schmid.“ Who more and more sings in public but keeps on working – as head of sales of the cheese factory Drechsler.
31 December 1952 Schmid opens the Old Viennese Concert Coffee-house Schmid Hansl in Währing. It is planned as nightspot for the Viennese Songs and getting into contact for his friends and acquaintances and guests – musicians, actors, painters, singers and the lovers of the Viennese Songs. Not a place to earn much money. The previous owner had warned him: “I tell you very honestly you will have only some guests and they will have a small coffee and seven glasses of water and sit there till the know all newspapers by heart.” When opening the coffee-house Schmid had invested all his money leaving only 10 Schillings aside. The place was accepted! Visited by Tennessee Williams, Julia Migenes as well as Hans Moser, Paul Hörbiger, Fritz Muliar and Bruno Kreisky.
Johann Schmid was the first Austrian for whom a memorial (photo, in Türkenschanzpark) had been raised when he was still alive. The Viennese major Helmut Zilk organised this to honour Schmid’s merits for cultivating the tradition of the Viennese Songs.
1987 Schmid died in Vienna.
The Schmid Hansl today is being managed by his son and is a first address for “Viennese, Original, Fancy, Verse, Harmonica, Schmäh, Well Knowns, News, Button Harmonica, Viennese Dances, Special Guitars”. Versatile – traditional and modern like the Viennese Opera House – but much cheaper & cosy. And another advantage: you will be welcomed by the owner even as normal female guest with a perfectly indicated kiss on the hand and a unobtrusive bow.
Photos made in the Schmid Hansl: from top, a small part of the memories on the walls among others a painting of Schmid Hansl, below Prof. Marika Sobotka (8 March 2007) singing „From Viennese Songs to Evergreens“.
More Viennese Songs? Overview, film (At night in Vienna in a Heuriger (wine tavern), about 1936) und Information portal
Schmid Hansl-Sources:
„Hansl Schmid, dem letzten Herrn des Wienerliedes“ (Hansl Schmid, the Last Master of the Viennese Songs) by Harry Glöckner, Tusch, Wien 1983
Website of the coffee-house (with audio file „Mein Herz das ist ein Bilderbuch vom alten Wien“ (my heart is a picture book of old Vienna) and events) and information from his son.
