Max Raabe

Max Raabe formed the Palast Orchester in 1986, a group dedicated to performing music from the Weimar Republic era. He's a classically trained baritone vocalist, and the orchestra's sound leans on his voice and lush arrangements of cabaret classics. They've released albums like 'Die Welt ist schön' in 1991 and 'Hollywood' in 2022.

Their repertoire includes songs like 'Küssen Kann Man Nicht Alleine' and 'Kleine Lügen', which capture the bittersweet tone of that period's music. Some listeners have questioned whether reviving this material might romanticize a complicated historical moment, but Raabe has said he's focused on the music itself rather than any political nostalgia.

The Palast Orchester includes musicians like Christoph Israel on piano and Sebastian Reimann on saxophone and clarinet. They've toured widely, and their performances aim for an elegant, period-specific atmosphere without trying to update the style too much.