Vienna (OTS) – ORF radio legend Ernst Grissemann, first Ö3 boss and later ORF radio director, died today at the age of 89 after a short, serious illness surrounded by his family in Vienna.
Ernst Grissemann was born and grew up in Imst in Tyrol. In 1967 he moved to Vienna and founded the radio station Ö3 under General Manager Gerd Bacher. In 1979 he was appointed radio director and in 1990 he was appointed director of the Tyrolean state. In addition, he was also active as a speaker, moderator and theater actor until the very end. He will be remembered by a broad Austrian audience as a memorable voice, for example on Ö1 as well as in the context of the TV broadcasts of the New Year’s Concert and the Eurovision Song Contest.
ORF General Director Mag. Roland Weißmann: “If the word ORF veteran applies to someone in particular, then it is Ernst Grissemann. He was a moderator, commentator, entertainer and designer, laid the foundation for the success of Ö3, and as radio broadcasting director and Tyrolean state director in other important management functions made a significant contribution to what distinguishes the ORF today. However, Grissemann remains unforgettable with the audience with his unmistakable voice, respectfully called “The Voice”, with numerous ORF broadcasts, for example at the New Year’s Concert of the Vienna Philharmonic, the Song Contest or the Ingeborg Bachmann Prize. Our condolences go to his family.”
ORF radio director Ingrid Thurnher: “Ernst Grissemann was one of those personalities who were always treated with a mixture of respect and honest admiration. His achievements for ORF radio, be it as Ö3 foundation stone layer or later radio director, are incomparable. The ORF radio family loses one of the greatest and mourns.”
In addition to obituaries in the current ORF reporting, Ö1 in memoriam Ernst Grissemann will repeat an edition of “Du holde Kunst” from 2018 on Sunday, January 8th, from 8.15 a.m. Grissemann will read poems on the subject of serenity, including by Wilhelm Busch, Theodor Fontane, Paul Celan, Elisabeth Borchers and Angela Krauß, with works by Erik Satie providing the musical framework.