Michael von der Heide

Michael Von der Heide, a Swiss singer with a German father and Swiss mother, embarked on his musical journey at 16, taking vocal lessons from opera singer Ginette Girardier. He soon found his passion for chansons. In 1990, he entered the Showszene Schweiz competition, showcasing young talents, and by 1995, he clinched the Swiss KleinKunstPreis. His acting debut came in 1996 with the play “Lina Böglis Reise”.

That same year, he released his debut album, which bore his own name and sold over 15,000 copies. His musical career further blossomed with the release of his second album “30° -” in 1998, featuring the hit single “Jeudi amour” which garnered the Silver Hare award. The album was critically acclaimed and sold over 24,000 copies.

In 1999, Von der Heide participated in the German selection for the Eurovision Song Contest with “Bye Bye Bar,” written by Micha Lewinsky and composed by Thomas Fessler. He also started “Divamix,” a live project with Maja Brunner and Christina Jaccard. The following year, he was honored with the German cabaret prize, released his third album “Tourist,” and began a collaboration with Annette Humpe. The album included a Swiss German cover of “Where the Wild Roses Grow,” performed as a duet with Züri West’s Kuno Lauener and was a chart success.

In 2001, he moved to Paris to work with artists like Doriand and Olivier Libaux, and recorded the album “L’heröine au bain” featuring a duet with Helena Noguerra. He toured with the live project “Hildegard – songs von und für Hildegard Knef” and released the album “Fresh” in 2002, which included duets with Nina Hagen and 2raumwohnung. His subsequent albums, including “Helvetia” and “2pièces,” continued to showcase his versatility and creativity in music.

Von der Heide ventured into lyrics with the 2007 song “Bleib doch, bis es schneit” for 2raumwohnung, and in 2008, he released “Freiesicht” in Germany, a collaboration with producers from Ich + Ich and featuring Annette Humpe. In 2010, he represented Switzerland at the Eurovision Song Contest with “Il pleut de l’or,” though he did not advance to the finals.

Post-Eurovision, his career continued to flourish with performances alongside the Zurich Symphony Orchestra and roles in significant musical productions like Christoph Marthaler’s “Meine faire Dame.” His subsequent album “Lido” was released in 2011 and he remained active in the music scene with tours and performances across Europe.

Michael Von der Heide continued to make significant strides in his music and theatrical career from 2012 onward. In 2012, he took on a role in “The Black Rider,” a production by Tom Waits and Robert Wilson, where he played Stelzfuss at the Theater Basel under the direction of Corina von Rad.

In 2013, he was part of the premiere of “Letzte Tage. Ein Vorabend,” directed by Christoph Marthaler, which debuted in Vienna and Paris. The same year, he also performed a duet “Chumm lee wärs doch la sii” with Sina. Furthermore, Von der Heide starred in “King Size,” a Liederabend featuring performances across several cities including Basel, Avignon, Paris, Sarajevo, Zagreb, Moscow, and Hamburg, with Tora Augestad.

The following year, in 2014, he starred in “Wanderful,” a musical revue with Sandra Studer and Gardi Hutter, which had its premiere at Zurich’s Theater am Hechtplatz. The show was a success, selling out for six weeks and was directed by Dominik Flaschka. He also participated in “Letzte Tage. Ein Vorabend” at the Staatsoper Berlin, another production directed by Christoph Marthaler.

In 2015, Von der Heide released a new album titled “Bellevue” and a single “Pas vu le temps passer.” He embarked on a European tour called “Kingsize,” which included performances at prestigious venues such as the Royal Opera House in London. Additionally, he conducted a Swiss tour titled “Wanderful.”

Building upon Michael Von der Heide’s extensive career, his creative output continued to flourish with new albums in the subsequent years. In 2016, he released an album titled “Paola,” adding to his discography. This was followed by another album in 2019 called “Rio Amden Amsterdam,” showcasing his ability to blend diverse musical influences and geographical inspirations into his work.

In 2021, Von der Heide released the album “Echo,” which further demonstrated his musical versatility and depth as an artist. Continuing his prolific career into 2023, he introduced “Nocturne,” an album that perhaps adds a reflective, possibly evening-themed aesthetic to his repertoire.