Villon Übersetzt Von Artmann Gesprochen Von Qualtinger Mit Jazz Von Fatty George (Vorspiele: Ernst Kölz)

Released in 1964 on the Viennese label Unikum, this record is a seminal artifact of the Austrian post-war literary and jazz scene. It features the poems of the medieval French poet François Villon, translated into the Viennese dialect by the avant-garde writer H.C. Artmann. Artmann’s translation style, known as 'dialektgedichte,' sought to strip away the romanticism often associated with Villon’s work, re-casting the medieval rogue as a gritty, contemporary figure of the Viennese underworld.

The recording pairs these translations with the iconic voice of actor Helmut Qualtinger, whose cynical, darkly comedic delivery became the definitive sound of the project. The musical backdrop was provided by the Fatty George Jazz Band, a cornerstone of Austrian jazz, with additional 'preludes' by Ernst Kölz. The collaboration captures a specific moment in 1960s Vienna where high-brow literature and experimental jazz intersected, resulting in a cult classic that remains a significant document of European spoken-word performance.