Lake Wörthersee legend

“Dreamer at the piano” celebrates his 80th birthday

For half a century, the "dreamer at the piano" has been delighting audiences at Lake Wörthersee. Lothar Renée is now even writing a novel to celebrate his 80th birthday!

Lothar Machtlinger, alias Lothar Renée, is celebrating two anniversaries this year: on March 26, the pianist will be 80 years old and he has been performing at Lake Wörthersee for 50 years. "Franco Andolfo once discovered me in the legendary Schloss-Bar in Velden. He heard me play and was thrilled," says Lothar Renée. Then the Viennese's career took off. "I always spent half a year in Vienna and half a year in Carinthia.

"Once I even performed instead of Richard Clayderman, but I was just as good as him. However, I only earned a sixth of his fee," he smiles. The "dreamer at the piano" always plays with white silk gloves. His hit "Serenade Romantique" made him famous. "As a boy, I had two dream jobs: train driver like my father or journalist," says the artist.

Seven favorite places on the lake
"Besides music, my second love is Lake Wörthersee. I got married on 9.9.1999 with nine people at the Hubertushof. This year we are celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary. I have seven favorite places on Lake Wörthersee, one of which is the terrace of my apartment." Machtlinger also lives in the house of Rapid striker Guido Burgstaller. "I'm a Rapid fan!"

An operation put the brakes on the pianist's career because he has been unable to operate the piano pedal with his left foot since 2017. "That's why I've taken up the pen more often," reveals the birthday boy, who is now writing a book: "My life according to sheet music."