ERWIN HALLETZ

Born: July 12th, 1923, Vienna (Austria)

Died: October 27th, 2008, Vienna (Austria)

Nationality: Austrian

In due course, the short impression below will be replaced with a more extensive career overview

BIOGRAPHY

Erwin Halletz studied violin and clarinet at the Wiener Musikakademie. During World War II, he was a member of various orchestras. In 1945, he became first violinist of the Wiener Tanzorchester, which performed with vocalist Horst Winter (who was to be Austria’s representative in the 1960 Eurovision Song Contest); Halletz also composed and arranged music for this ensemble. In 1950, he took over the baton of the orchestra and led it during many tours and recording sessions with artists such as Peter Alexander, Johannes Heesters, Zarah Leander (‘Wunderbar’), and Udo Jürgens. From 1961 to 2002, Halletz worked and lived in Monaco, being the principal arranger and conductor of the Monte Carlo Light Symphony Orchestra. His numerous songs were interpreted by Connie Francis, Corry Brokken, and many others. 

EUROVISION SONG CONTEST

In 1963, Halletz wrote the Austrian entry to the Eurovision Song Contest, ‘Vielleicht geschieht ein Wunder’ (performed half in German, half in English by Israeli vocalist Carmela Corren). This craftily written melody was conducted Halletz as well. In the contest, held in London, Halletz and Corren obtained a seventh position on the scoreboard.

EUROVISION INVOLVEMENT YEAR BY YEAR

1963 London

Country – Austria

Song title – "Vielleicht geschieht ein Wunder (Who Knows What Comes Tomorrow)"

Rendition – Carmela Corren

German lyrics – Peter Wehle

English lyrics – Norman Newell

Composition – Erwin Halletz

Studio arrangement – Charles Nowa

(studio orchestra conducted by Charles Nowa)

Live orchestration – Erwin Halletz

Conductor – Erwin Halletz

Score – 7th place (16 votes)