For more than two decades, the mega-event has been a firm fixture in Schlager fans’ calendars. The “Starnacht am Wörthersee” attracts thousands of viewers to Austria every year – but the TV viewers always get their money’s worth when the biggest stars of the hit perform on the stage in Klagenfurt. The show on Saturday evening is then the highlight of the concert weekend. The moderators Barbara Schöneberger and Hans Sigl (“Bergdoktor”) led the live broadcast in 2023.
ORF and ARD showed “Starnacht am Wörthersee” with Maite Kelly, Andreas Gabalier and Andrea Berg
Among the guests of the “Starnacht am Wörthersee” in 2023 were the most sought-after and most successful artists of the German-speaking Schlager scene, such as Andrea Berg, Andreas Gabalier, Howard Carpendale, Maite Kelly, Vanessa Mai, Melissa Naschenweng and Beatrice Egli. The special feature: Many invited musicians put on several performances on the open-air stage.
“Now it’s mostly the men who buckle up”: Hans Sigl on the appearance of Maite Kelly
Shortly before 9 p.m. Maite Kelly was allowed on the stage of the “Starnacht am Wörthersee” for the first time. Hans Sigl was obviously excited himself. “Now the men in the audience in particular buckle up. With their title ‘I’m looking for a man’ …” the “Bergdoktor” actor began the moderation before colleague Barbara Schöneberger interrupted him and corrected the Kelly song title : “‘I need a man.”
After Maite Kelly’s performance, Hans Sigl practiced small talk and wanted to know from the mother of three what a perfect vacation day looked like. Maite Kelly said that she was in Austria with the children and continued her break in the mountains after the “Starnacht am Wörthersee”. Maite Kelly revealed her plans: “Do nothing and eat.”
“You scoundrel”: Maite Kelly with a wild fire show at the “Starnacht am Wörthersee”
But before Maite Kelly could get in the car, she was allowed to go on stage a second time to present her song “Du Sculptor”. The 43-year-old went all out with black wide-leg pants, a tight leather jacket and dark make-up. She danced wildly to the fire show, always looking for eye contact with the camera lens and thus with the TV viewers.
© ORF/Screenshot
from ORF/Screenshot
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Schlager show: Barbara Schöneberger comments on Maite Kelly’s aggressive performance
Maite Kelly left the “Starnacht am Wörthersee” to thunderous applause. Barbara Schöneberger couldn’t leave the vortex performance uncommented and said quite directly into the microphone: “You don’t want to mess with her. There was also a lot of aggression.” Was this comment actually planned? Hans Sigl was visibly surprised by these statements and preferred to talk quickly about the content of the song: “The men have to listen carefully. Then you also hear ‘Don’t come to me with your charm’.” Schöneberger chatted along for a moment, but then preferred not to continue Kelly’s vortex appearance.
But Maite Kelly’s appearance was also hotly debated on social networks. “Many men tend to stay single,” etched a Twitter user. Another criticized “this theatrical singing”. But of course there is also a lot of praise for Maite Kelly and her catchy songs. “She is the power woman of Schlager,” wrote an Instagram follower. Maite Kelly was happy about this assessment and even shared this story in her account.
Good ratings: 2.74 million viewers tuned in
ARD can also be happy, because more than 2.74 million viewers tuned in to “Starnacht am Wörthersee”, which, according to “DWDL”, corresponds to an average market share of 16.4 percent.