Stephan Hippe "Jacques Brel - Ein Leben in XL"

Stephan Hippe is an artist who knows how to take his audience on an emotional journey—his concerts are truly "a rollercoaster ride through all emotions." It has been over 30 years since the "suggestive debutant" (HAZ) first appeared before an audience and enchanted listeners with his expressive voice. Today, at the age of 55, Hippe can look back on a varied career characterized by a deep connection to chanson. Hippe studied acting and singing in Hamburg and won an award in the chanson category at the Federal Singing Competition in 1989. His stage career began in 1991 in the role of Brad in the highly acclaimed production of *The Rocky Horror Show* at the Theater am Holstenwall. Since then, he has played leading roles in numerous theater productions throughout Germany and has also appeared regularly on television since 1995. But from the very beginning, his heart beat especially for chanson. With his musical programs and readings, he conquered the stages of Germany and made repeated trips to France, where Provence became his second home. This love for France led him to a new adventure in 2005: he temporarily retired from acting to open the "Brasserie La Provence" in Hamburg with his partner, which became one of the city's leading French restaurants. The brasserie has been awarded several times as the best French restaurant in Hamburg, most recently in 2020. At the same time, Hippe published the cookbook "Le Grand Bordel" in 2013, which was written in Provence and topped the cookbook bestseller list for months. Despite his success in gastronomy, Hippe could never completely let go of the stage. In 2012, he began developing new solo programs and giving regular concerts again. These include the productions "Douce France" and "Brel, une vie XL," which, together with "CHARLES und wie er die Welt sah" (CHARLES and how he saw the world), form a trilogy paying homage to the golden age of chanson. www.stephanhippe.de