Remember Hugo Wiener’s name. This square now carries it. Hugo-Wiener-Platz. But who was Hugo Wiener? Let me tell you about this remarkable man.
Hugo Wiener was an Austrian composer. He was a pianist and a writer. Born in Vienna in 1904 he lived a long and creative life. He passed away in 1993.
Wiener’s early life involved music studies. He worked at the Raimundtheater. From 1928 to 1938, he wrote revues. These were for the Kabarettbühne Femina. Many were with librettist Kurt Breuer. The Wiener Kabarett ABC also showcased his work.
1938 forced Wiener to flee Vienna. As a Jew, he accepted an invitation to Bogota. This came from the revue stage Femina. Fritz Imhoff helped him pay the “Reichsfluchtsteuer”. This tax allowed him to leave. His family stayed behind and faced deportation to Poland.
On the way to Bogota, Wiener met Cissy Kraner. She was a new member of “Femina.” They married in Caracas in 1943. Wiener struggled in exile. He worried about his family in Europe. He felt absurd writing in German in South America.
Wiener and Kraner opened a piano bar in Caracas. It became very successful. In 1948, they returned to Vienna. From 1950, they joined the Wiener “Simpl”. He wrote famous double conferences for Karl Farkas and Ernst Waldbrunn. A dispute with Farkas occurred in 1965.
Hugo Wiener wrote over a hundred cabaret programs. He wrote about 400 chansons. Cissy Kraner’s unique interpretations made them special. He also wrote screenplays. “Das verrückte Paar” for ZDF is one example. He composed musical comedies and operetta libretti. He adapted musicals and operettas too.
Wiener had a talent. He tailored his texts to the performers. Hugo Wiener’s texts fit them perfectly.
Wiener rests in an honorary grave. It is with his wife Cissy Kraner. The grave is at the Vienna Central Cemetery. In 1997, the Hugo-Wiener-Weg was named after him. It is in the 22nd district, Donaustadt. In 1999, this square, Hugo-Wiener-Platz, honored him in the 4th district. In 2013, the Cissy-Kraner-Platz was named after his wife. It is also in Wieden.
Consider his famous “Novak” songs. “Aber der Novak lässt mich nicht verkommen” became a hit. Some versions even had a warning label in Germany. This was due to a misunderstanding with a Gisela parody.
Hugo Wiener’s legacy lives on here at Hugo-Wiener-Platz. Remember him. He was a talented artist who faced adversity. He brought joy and laughter to many.