Roland Kaiser is once again turning the banks of the Elbe in Dresden into a “Kaisermania” show stage in front of the baroque silhouette of the old town. Before the start, the singer examines himself – made of wax. “This is high art.”
Giant stage, unique backdrop, thousands of fans and onlookers – the legendary “Kaisermania” begins with two concerts this weekend on the banks of the Elbe in Dresden. Pop singer Roland Kaiser will celebrate the start of the 21st edition on Friday evening, which includes four concerts (26 and 27 July, 2 and 3 August).
According to the organizers, the total of 50,000 tickets were, as always, sold out “within five minutes”. In 2024, the 72-year-old will have a guest for the first time: the pop singer Georg Stengel, known from “The Voice of Germany”. Hours before the start, Kaiser received a special honor on the Brühlsche Terrasse: He met himself – made of wax.
Deceptively realistic down to the last detail
“It’s unbelievable,” said the 72-year-old when he first saw the copy of himself made for the Berlin exhibition by Madame Tussauds. “A perfect double, you could say.” It is identical down to the hair and wrinkles, except for the outfit: instead of the classic blue two-piece suit with a colorful pocket square, the real emperor wears a combination of red trousers and a dark blue jacket – and is fascinated by his likeness.
The famous wax museum chose Kaiser for the illustrious, international company of prominent artists already gathered there, including Taylor Swift and Helene Fischer. “It’s an honor, no question about it,” said Kaiser. His double will stand in the scaled-down replica of the “Kaisermania” set, with the famous Dresden old town backdrop and videos of his legendary shows – and will be on public display starting this Saturday.
Great respect for the wax figure specialists
He spent five hours sitting as a model for the specialists at Madame Tussauds to create a copy of himself, which was then made in the London workshops of the famous wax museum. He saw what “hard work” it was. “The perfection is a high art,” said Kaiser. Everything was perfect, down to the last detail, “even the wedding ring.”
Kaisermania Phenomenon
“Kaisermania is very important to me because it marks the beginning of my real live career,” Kaiser admitted. “It is an event that cannot be compared to any other because of the special connection to the audience and the city.” The Berlin native has had a kind of love affair with “Florence on the Elbe” since his first visit in 1990 and even wrote a hymn for his “affair” Dresden years ago.
With his shows, he turns the banks of the Elbe opposite the famous baroque skyline into a party zone on several evenings in the summer. It’s not just his fans who travel from home and abroad to attend. Hundreds of spectators join in the celebrations for free around the cordoned-off area – on meadows, bridges and on the opposite side of the old town.
This weekend and the first weekend in August, the artist will initially leave the giant stage to Georg Stengel. The 30-year-old is looking forward to his premiere at the Dresden Film Nights on the banks of the Elbe. For him, Kaiser is “a person close to his heart,” Stengel told the German Press Agency.
At the last concert on August 3rd, with TV broadcast (8.15 p.m., MDR television), there will even be a public viewing – in the small community of Seeligstadt, a good 25 kilometers east of Dresden’s Königsufer.
Source: Stern
I am an author and journalist who has worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade. I currently work as a news editor at a major news website, and my focus is on covering the latest trends in entertainment. I also write occasional pieces for other outlets, and have authored two books about the entertainment industry.
