Max Raabe and the Palast Orchestra came to the Lisner Auditorium on Tuesday and performed a variety of songs from their latest album.

Performing in front of a nearly packed auditorium, the orchestra showed the vigor, personality, and humor it is well known for. Their latest CD is a compilation of songs from the 20s and 30s, and has been very well received by critics. Raabe and his orchestra all originate in Germany, and the majority of the CD has German songs from that era. However, notable songs sung in English included, “Singing in the Rain,” “Cheek to Cheek,” “You’re the Cream in my Coffee,” and “I’ll Kiss Your Hand, Dear Lady.” Besides the beautifully interpreted music, Raabe also has an amazing stage presence, and is capable of eliciting both excitement from the music, and sadness from his tone. However, he also is quite the wit, and had the audience regularly cracking up throughout the performance.

An after the show interview with several of the band members revealed that what may seem like a carefree and easy performance on stage is actually quite the opposite. Baritone Saxophonist Rainier Fox says of the band, “Max is quite the perfectionist. It may seem easy on stage to perform, but it is much harder to look like its easy, act like its funny, and perform well than what we portray on stage. It takes quite a bit of practice.”

Aside from his latest CD, Max Raabe and the Palast Orchestra have released covers that include such well known hits as Britney Spears’ “Hit Me Baby One More Time,” and “Oops (I Did It Again) as well as Salt and Peppa’s, “Let’s Talk About Sex”. After leaving the stage, a ten minute standing ovation brought all the twelve members back to the stage for several memorable encore performances.

by Pat Miller