Preiser Records

Preiser Records is an independent Austrian record label founded in 1952 by Otto G. Preiser. The label is associated especially with the preservation and circulation of Austrian and Viennese cultural history through recorded music and spoken-word material. Its catalogue is particularly important for recordings connected with the Viennese cabaret scene of the 1950s and 1960s, including work by Helmut Qualtinger, Georg Kreisler, and Gerhard Bronner. These releases reflect a tradition in which satire, theatre, song, literary performance, and social commentary overlapped. A second defining area is the label’s historical vocal catalogue, most prominently represented by the Lebendige Vergangenheit series. The series has existed since 1966 and is devoted to reissuing archival vocal recordings. Through this work, Preiser Records has served not only as a contemporary label but also as an archival publisher, making older performances available to later audiences in updated editions. The company’s importance therefore lies less in mass-market scale than in specialist curation, historical preservation, and access to recordings that might otherwise remain difficult to obtain. Jürgen E. Schmidt, who worked as Preiser-Records’ production and recording manager, was responsible for the label’s activity in both the Viennese cabaret field and the Lebendige Vergangenheit programme. His work was central to the development and maintenance of these catalogue areas until his death in 2010. The label’s history consequently combines original documentation of postwar Austrian performance culture with systematic re-release of earlier vocal recordings. Preiser Records remained a small participant in the Austrian recorded-music market. In 2007, it was reported as holding approximately one percent of the market represented by IFPI Austria, the Austrian music-industry association. The label releases primarily on compact disc and has access to an analogue sound studio at Casino Baumgarten. Its catalogue and production facilities reflect a continuing emphasis on archival sound, carefully managed reissues, and Austrian cultural repertoire rather than mainstream international pop.

Preiser Records was founded in Austria in 1952 by Otto G. Preiser. From the outset, the company operated as an independent record label rather than as a large multinational music group. Its later identity was shaped by two closely related activities: documenting Austrian performance culture and preserving older recordings through curated reissues. The label became particularly significant for recordings from the Viennese cabaret scene, especially material associated with the 1950s and 1960s. Artists connected with this part of the catalogue include Helmut Qualtinger, Georg Kreisler, and Gerhard Bronner. Their work belongs to a Viennese tradition combining songs, satire, theatre, literary performance, and social observation. By recording and reissuing this repertoire, Preiser Records helped maintain access to a distinctive part of postwar Austrian cultural history. In 1966, the label established the Lebendige Vergangenheit series. This programme concentrated on historical vocal recordings and became one of Preiser Records’ most recognizable long-term catalogue projects. Rather than focusing solely on new releases, the series treated recorded sound as an archival resource, bringing earlier singers and performances to later listeners through reissue editions. Jürgen E. Schmidt served as the company’s production and recording manager and was identified with responsibility for both the Viennese cabaret repertoire and Lebendige Vergangenheit. His role linked the label’s recording practice with its archival mission. Schmidt died in 2010. Preiser Records remained a relatively small company in the Austrian market. A 2007 figure placed its share at one percent of the market measured by IFPI Austria, the Austrian music-industry association. In its more recent activity, the label has released mainly on compact disc. It also has access to an analogue sound studio at Casino Baumgarten. These details underline the company’s specialist orientation: its importance derives from the cultural and archival value of its catalogue rather than from dominant market scale. The available reference material does not establish a later ownership change, a precise current corporate structure, or a separately documented current executive team. The label is nevertheless described as continuing to release recordings, with its identity still centered on Austrian repertoire, Viennese cabaret, historical vocal performances, and sound preservation.

• 2010

  Death of Jürgen E. Schmidt

  [1]Preiser Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  The production and recording manager associated with important catalogue areas died.

• 2007

  Reported Austrian market share

  [1]Preiser Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Preiser Records was reported to hold one percent of the market measured by IFPI Austria.

• 1966

  Lebendige Vergangenheit begins

  [1]Preiser Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  The label began its long-running series of historical vocal-recording reissues.

• 1952

  Preiser Records is founded

  [1]Preiser Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Otto G. Preiser founded the independent Austrian record label.

A specialist independent label focused on Austrian cultural heritage, Viennese cabaret, archival vocal recordings, and historically significant reissues.

• Historical vocal-recording reissue series · 1966

  Lebendige Vergangenheit

  Lebendige Vergangenheit is Preiser Records’ long-running archival series of historical vocal recordings. Established in 1966, it presents earlier performances in reissue form and represents the label’s sustained commitment to preserving vocal-music history. The series is a core part of Preiser’s identity as a specialist catalogue and archival label rather than only a producer of contemporary releases.

• Cabaret and spoken-word recordings

  Viennese cabaret recordings

  This catalogue area documents the Viennese cabaret scene, with particular emphasis on material from the 1950s and 1960s. Associated performers named in reference material include Helmut Qualtinger, Georg Kreisler, and Gerhard Bronner. The releases preserve a hybrid repertoire of songs, satire, theatre, and spoken performance connected with Austrian cultural life.

• Music reissues

  Archival compact disc releases

  Preiser Records’ modern catalogue is released mainly on compact discs. These editions provide a physical format for the label’s historical vocal, cabaret, and other archival recordings, extending access to material drawn from Austrian and wider vocal-music history.

1. 1Preiser Recordsen.wikipedia.org