Roger Siffer

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Roger Siffer, 2012

Roger Siffer (* 1948 in Villé (Weiler), Arrondissement Sélestat-Erstein ) is an Alsatian cabaret artist , songwriter , singer and artistic director of the “Théâtre de la Choucrouterie” in Strasbourg .

Life

Siffer began studying philosophy in Strasbourg, which he broke off shortly before graduation in favor of music. His first big public appearance took place at the age of 20 at the annual Sauerkraut Festival in Colmar , in front of "2000 people and a bad system". He amazed his audience with the French-language version of American rock music such as that of his great role model Bob Dylan . Lyrically he was more influenced by the chansonniers Léo Ferré and Georges Brassens . The Strasbourg cultural politician and cabaret artist Germain Muller invited Siffer to play songs and skits on his stage, the Barabli . He started off with nursery rhymes and cover versions, but Muller pushed him to write his own lyrics. His "apprenticeship" at "Barabli" lasted two years.

Théâtre de la Choucrouterie

Roger Siffer-Choucrouterie-Strasbourg.jpg

Siffer used the vacancy of a sauerkraut factory that was producing until the 1980s in the rue Saint-Louis in the Finkwiller district on the edge of the old town of Strasbourg, renovated the building and now called it Théâtre de la Choucrouterie , Sürkrüt-Theat'r or for short: la Chouc . In addition to two stages, there is also a restaurant ( Sürkrüt-Stub ) and the artist agency Créations Nouvelles Alsace Culture (CNAC). The ensemble switches from one stage to another during a performance to entertain in Alsatian or French . The most famous employees of the ensemble include Jean-Pierre Albrecht, Cathy Bernecker, Cookie Dingler, Roland Kieffer and Huguette Dreikaus . Many young Alsatian artists had their first major appearance here. Out of respect for his role model Muller, Siffer refrained from performing his own cabaret until his death in 1994, meanwhile (2006) Siffer has created his 12th satirical revue. 21,000 spectators visit the cabaret for up to 180 performances every year. Among its most famous guests, the “Chouc” could count Marcel Marceau , Claude Nougaro , Juliette Gréco and Jack Lang .

Preserver and innovator of Alsatian culture

Every summer, his cabaret goes on the “Tournée d'été” (summer tour) in the Alsatian villages and towns and involves his audience in his performances - including the “maires” (mayors). At the annual festival of the European Culture Days 1998, the ensemble around Roger Siffer performed scenes and songs about the Baden Revolution . At the European Culture Days 2002, his revue focused on the differences and similarities in a united Europe.

His chanson by Mademoiselle "Anne-Marie", which is popular in France and is mistaken for a folk song, has actually become famous. According to Siffer, Alsatians are not very well respected in France because their culture shows German influences. After the suffering of the Second World War, German music is still strictly frowned upon by the French. When Siffer once sang in the Alsatian language in Paris, the audience protested that they did not want to hear songs by the “ Boches ”. Today Siffer is considered to be the “ figurehead of Alsatian identity” in his homeland .

Roger Siffer has been married to the Kiel cabaret artist Susanne Mayer (* 1946) since 2015 , with whom he had been in a relationship for many years. The couple have three children and six grandchildren.

Discography (selection)

  • Junk. A homage to Jean Hans Arp
  • Les plus belles chansons des tournées d'été 2
  • Les plus belles chansons des tournées d'été 1
  • Papa Rhine. Skits and songs. A homage to Europe. (Poster: Tomi Ungerer ) [1]
  • Klapperstei tournée d'été 99
  • Summer Tournée d'été 98
  • Danses Alsaciennes d'autrefois
  • Blues blos music
  • Em Remes sini band
  • Madam 'la Republic
  • 20 ans de chansons
  • Liedle fer Kleini un grossi
  • Slowly dumb
  • Alsace à vendre
  • Alsace au pluriel
  • Mine G'sang
  • Chubby song

Radio plays

literature

  • Roger Siffer: Quand la choucroute rit ... ... toute l'Alsace applaudit! Éditions La Nuée Bleue, Strasbourg 2004, 270 p., ISBN 2-7165-0610-8 .
  • Roger Siffer: Morceaux choisis. Éditions La Nuée Bleue 1998, Strasbourg, 127 p., ISBN 2-7165-0462-8 .

Movie

  • Beautiful Alsace - half-timbered houses, sauerkraut and savoir vivre. TV reportage and conversation with Roger Siffer as studio guest, Germany, 2008, 59 min., Director: Wolfram Kettner, production: SWR , series: Planet Wissen , first broadcast: March 12, 2008 on SWR

Web links

Commons : Roger Siffer  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Serge Hartmann: Les noces de Roger Siffer, Dernières nouvelles d´Alsace, May 31, 2015.
personal data
SURNAME Siffer, Roger
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Alsatian-French cabaret artist, songwriter and stage manager
DATE OF BIRTH 1948
PLACE OF BIRTH Villé (hamlet)