For Udo Jürgens' 90th birthday, a special tribute concert called "Merci Udo - The Udo Jürgens Story" took place in the Vienna Stadthalle. This show was presented by the Udo All-Star Band under the direction of Bernhard Heher and Josef Pepe Schütz.
The Udo Jürgens Story - his life, his love, his music were brought back to life thanks to the extraordinary support of Gabriela Benesch and Alex Parker. The gifted singer and Udo Jürgens interpreter sang his greatest hits and Gabriela Benesch told his best stories to go with them. Both performers led the audience through Udo's life in an elegant, humorous and passionate way that captivated the entire audience. Jenny Jürgens, daughter of Udo Jürgens, was also present and reported that the evening in honor of her father was great and that she enjoyed it very much. She also congratulated the brilliant protagonists of the evening and said it was a show that every Udo fan should attend.
Udo Jürgens: From Carinthia to the World
Udo Jürgens was born in Klagenfurt on September 30, 1934. His real name, Jürgens Udo Bockelmann, is known to every Udo fan. He was a world-famous Austrian singer, composer, lyricist, and a gifted pianist. He sang mainly in German, but he also delighted his fans with songs in English, French, and Italian.
He sold an incredible 105 million records and was one of the best-known and most successful German entertainers. Jürgens' musical style included hits, chanson, jazz and pop music. One of his greatest successes was when he became the first Austrian to win the Grand Prix Eurovision de la Chanson (now called the Eurovision Song Contest) with the song Merci, Chérie. Udo composed around 1000 songs in his life.
The show by and with Gabriela Benesch and Alex Parker
The evening began with a touching introduction by actress Gabriela Benesch. With her extraordinary commitment and dedication to the show, she exceeded the expectations of all fans and producers. Benesch told stories and anecdotes from Udo's life in a humorous and exciting way. She incorporated his personal notes from his life into the show. She began with stories from his childhood to old age. This spectacular way of presenting the show enabled the audience to actively join in the celebrations, laugh a lot and sing along to his songs.
Alex Parker started the show with the song "Merci, Chérie". The whole audience cheered and sang along. The average audience was well over 70. Many of them came with crutches, wheelchairs and other walking aids. This impressed the younger audience. They didn't let the event slip through their fingers. They danced in with a glass of champagne or an espresso and were ready to bring Udo Jürgens back to life with his music. The atmosphere in the hall was brilliant. The audience cheered, sang and wiggled in their seats.
Alex Parker: A singer with heart and soul
Anyone who had never heard of Alex Parker before this show had already been burned into the hearts of every viewer after the show. This singer was there with heart and soul and gave such an honest, enthusiastic performance that everyone's heart blossomed. He is an artist who puts his heart and soul into his profession. Parker has perfected the vocal imitation of Udo Jürgens and manages to sing Udo's greatest hits so authentically that it was as if Jürgens himself were on stage singing them. This experience gave the viewers and critics goosebumps and was an unforgettable experience.
The greatest hits of Udo were played beautifully in the show with a live band. Hits like: "I know what I want", "At 66 years old", "An honorable house", "I've never been to New York", "What I want to tell you", "The sun always rises", "Greek wine", "Love without suffering", "Merci Cherie" and many more.
These melodies in particular have shaped generations. I myself am almost 40 years old and knew almost all of the songs without them being actively played in my parents' house.
Conclusion: A must for all Udo Jürgens fans
The show was an unforgettable experience for young and old. The band, Gabriela Benesch and Alex Parker offered the audience a very touching and captivating show. The show began with my great opening, with a powerful performance of the iconic Udo Jürgens song “Merci, Chérie” and immediately captivated the entire audience - including me. Through the emotional stories of Gabriele Benesch and the former members of his band, everyone gave an unforgettable evening - to all of Udo's fans, young and old. It brought back memories and made everyone laugh and smile. Through the anecdotes from the life of Udo Jürgens, the show gave the audience a deep connection to the person behind the unforgettable songs. Through songs like “I was still the one in New York”, the experience gave the fans immediate goosebumps and enabled a feeling of togetherness. The visitors sang along to every song and this interaction between the show and the audience was a unique experience, which I experienced for the first time in my life.
The all-star band, led by Bernhard Heher and Josef Pepe Schütz, accompanied vocally by Alex Parker, brings the songs of Udo Jürgens back to life. Solo singing elements and special musical creations by the band make their performances an unforgettable evening.
The next shows:
- March 06, 2025: “The Udo Jürgens Story” at Theater Akzent, Vienna
- November 25, 2025: “The Udo Jürgens Story” at Theater Akzent, Vienna
- February 20, 2026: “Da Capo – Udo Jürgens” – with the Pepe Lienhard Orchestra in the Stadthalle, Vienna
