Rosenstolz

Rosenstolz

Company type	Duo
Industry	Music
Founded	1991 in Berlin, Germany
Defunct	2012
Headquarters	Berlin , Germany
Products	Pop music albums and singles

Rosenstolz () was a pop music duo originating from Berlin, Germany, active between 1991 and 2012, achieving notable chart positions in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. The group comprised vocalist AnNa R. and instrumentalist Peter Plate, who occasionally contributed vocals. Their commercial breakthrough occurred after the 1990s, with five studio albums reaching the top position on the German albums chart. Although the members eventually pursued individual careers, a future reunion was considered possible. AnNa R. passed away unexpectedly in March 2025.

Their sound combined elements of pop and chanson, yet the duo distanced themselves from being labeled as Schlager, preferring to identify simply as pop artists. Their catalog featured both heartfelt ballads and eccentric pop tunes, with later releases tending to reduce the quirky aspects. Central themes explored in their songs included love, sexuality, and emotional experiences.

1991: Formation

Prior to forming Rosenstolz, Berliner AnNa R. aspired to become a bar singer, while Plate had been involved with a short-lived band based in Braunschweig. The two met shortly after Plate relocated to Berlin in December 1990, introduced by Plate’s landlord who connected them because AnNa R. was looking for a pianist and Plate was seeking a vocalist. Their initial encounter led to recording a song that very evening.

Although their musical preferences differed—AnNa R. favored chanson, whereas Plate leaned towards English-language pop—they began collaborating regularly. After several unsatisfactory attempts writing lyrics in English, they switched to composing in German. Within four months, they had enough material to produce their first cassette and arranged their debut live performance. They considered names such as A && P but ultimately chose the coined name Rosenstolz, which immediately resonated with them.

Their inaugural concert took place on 4 October 1991 at Galerie Bellevue in Berlin, primarily attended by friends. A subsequent gig at the SchwuZ gay club on 7 December 1991 attracted around 400 attendees but encountered some audience impatience while waiting for the headline act.

1992–1995: Soubrette werd' ich nie, Nur einmal noch and Mittwoch is' er fällig

Following these early shows, Rosenstolz continued performing live and caught the attention of record producer Tom Müller, known for his work with German singer Nina Hagen. They commenced recording their debut album, Soubrette werd' ich nie, which was released in late 1992 through the independent label Pool. Although the album achieved limited commercial impact, Müller provided temporary financial backing that allowed AnNa R. and Plate to dedicate more time to songwriting and live performances.

By 1993, Rosenstolz was playing approximately ten concerts per month, mainly across eastern Germany. Their first significant concert drew an audience of 600 at Berlin's WABE cultural center. Two years later, their show at Berlin’s Metropol sold out swiftly, resulting in an additional performance being scheduled. Together, these concerts attracted around 1,500 attendees—the largest audience they had reached at that point.

A preview published in Berliner Zeitung emphasized their music’s dynamic shifts—from sparkling soprano vocals to synthesizer-driven electropop and melancholic lyrics—complemented by AnNa R.’s adaptable stage presence.

The duo released two further studio albums during this period: Nur einmal noch (1994) and Mittwoch is' er fällig (1995), both issued by Traumton Records after parting ways with Pool due to creative differences. The lead single from Nur einmal noch received significant airplay on Berlin radio stations, boosting their visibility as their songs also became popular within local disco scenes.

1996–1999: Objekt der Begierde, Die Schlampen sind müde und Zucker

By the mid-1990s, Rosenstolz attracted attention from major record companies. After reviewing various proposals, AnNa R. and Plate chose to sign with Polydor Records, while maintaining their creative control. This transition shifted production expenses from Müller to the label, allowing for enhanced resources such as a 20-member string orchestra featured on "Der Moment" from their 1996 release Objekt der Begierde. The album launch was accompanied by a May-to-December tour that expanded their audience base in western Germany and culminated in a concert in Berlin attended by 4,000 fans.

In 1997, Rosenstolz performed before approximately 10,000 spectators in Novosibirsk, Russia, through the support of the Goethe-Institut. Later that year, their fifth studio album, Die Schlampen sind müde, entered the German charts for the first time, reaching number 31 despite minimal radio exposure.

During 1998, Rosenstolz gained visibility by participating in the televised contest to select Germany’s Eurovision Song Contest representative. Although they finished as runners-up, their track "Herzensschöner" became their inaugural single to enter the German singles chart, peaking at number 34. This song was included on the compilation album Alles Gute, released in April 1998 and followed by a tour; the album itself climbed to number 10 on the German charts.

Also in 1998, Rosenstolz ended their collaboration with Müller. Their subsequent studio album, Zucker, produced by Plate and released in 1999, debuted at number two, surpassing their earlier chart achievements. The band embarked on an extensive tour and issued their first live album, Zuckerschlampen:live, which entered the charts at number five.

In addition, in 1999 Rosenstolz released "Ja, ich will," a song advocating for legalization of same-sex marriage in Germany. The track featured a duet with German comedian Hella von Sinnen, aligning with social activism during a time when registered partnerships were not yet legally recognized.

2000–2004: Kassengift, Macht Liebe und Herz

At the dawn of the new millennium, Rosenstolz achieved their first number one on the German albums chart with Kassengift, their seventh studio album released in September 2000. This record marked the debut of Ulf Leo Sommer—Plate’s partner since 1990—as co-songwriter and co-producer. The album’s release coincided with increased visibility on music television through the video for "Amo Vitam," performed entirely in Latin. Following this release, Rosenstolz launched a concert tour featuring four performances at Berlin’s Columbiahalle.

Two songs from Kassengift, namely "Total Eclipse" and "Die schwarze Witwe", were re-recorded with guest appearances by Marc Almond and Nina Hagen and issued as a double single in March 2001. Later that year, they released "Es könnt' ein Anfang sein," which became their first top ten single in Germany and was supported by another concert tour.

Their following studio album, Macht Liebe (September 2002), incorporated electronic elements reminiscent of Neue Deutsche Welle. It peaked at number three on the German albums chart, followed by a sold-out tour including seven full-capacity shows at Berlin’s Columbiahalle. These concerts featured performances of "Laut," an anti-war anthem preceding the Iraq invasion of 2003.

In mid-2003, Rosenstolz unveiled their second live album along with their first live DVD, both entitled Live aus Berlin, recorded during the Macht Liebe tour. Their debut open-air tour concluded with a Berlin show before an audience of 17,000 at Kindl-Bühne Wuhlheide.

March 2004 saw the release of Rosenstolz's ninth studio album, Herz, which combined ballads with pop and rock influences. The album swiftly attained Gold and subsequently Platinum certification, reaching number one on Germany’s albums chart. Singles including "Liebe ist alles," "Ich will mich verlieben," and "Willkommen" secured top ten positions, while over 150,000 attendees participated in the supporting tour. The concluding performance at Kindl-Bühne Wuhlheide was recorded and issued as the live DVD titled Willkommen in unserer Welt (2004). The song "Liebe ist alles" was later covered by Melanie C on her album "Let There Be Love" (2011) and by Grégory Lemarchal on "Je Deviens Moi" (2005).

2005–2011: Das große Leben, Die Suche geht weiter und Wir sind am Leben

In 2005, Rosenstolz withdrew from public engagements to focus on creating Das große Leben, their tenth studio release, which came out in March 2006. Dominated by ballads, this album became their most commercially successful work, maintaining the top position on the German charts for four consecutive weeks and exceeding one million sales. It also secured the No. 1 spot in Austria and entered the Swiss top ten. Every single from the album reached the German top 20, notably "Ich bin ich (Wir sind wir)" and "Aus Liebe wollt ich alles wissen". The accompanying tour comprised 36 performances, culminating in three sold-out open-air concerts in Berlin. A live recording from this tour, titled Das große Leben live (2006), was made available on both CD and DVD.

By August 2008, Rosenstolz celebrated their inaugural No. 1 single in Germany with "Gib mir Sonne", taken from their eleventh studio album, Die Suche geht weiter. This introspective album, shaped in part by Sommer's mother's passing, topped charts in Germany and Austria while reaching No. 2 in Switzerland. Additional singles such as "Wie weit ist vorbei" and "Blaue Flecken" secured spots within the German top 10. The 2008/2009 Bist du dabei tour was prematurely halted due to Plate's burnout diagnosis, forcing cancellation of the remaining shows. During this pause, the duo released another live CD/DVD package, Die Suche geht weiter live (2009), recorded during a concert in Munich.

After nearly three years away from the spotlight, Rosenstolz made a comeback in September 2011 with both the single and album titled Wir sind am Leben, which topped charts in Germany and Austria and reached No. 3 in Switzerland. This release coincided with their 20th anniversary and was accompanied by a one-hour documentary broadcast on ARD called Rosenstolz – Wir sind Wir! – Die Erfolgsgeschichte eines Popduos.

2012: Indefinite hiatus & AnNa R.'s passing

In February 2012, speculation about Rosenstolz disbanding emerged after they withdrew from scheduled TV appearances and the 2012 ECHO awards. The band's record label clarified that these cancellations were due to health issues.

Towards the end of 2012, AnNa R. and Plate declared an indefinite hiatus for Rosenstolz, explaining their need for personal space after many years of collaboration. In 2013, they each pursued separate endeavors: Plate released a solo album while AnNa R. became part of the newly formed group Gleis 8. On March 17, 2025, AnNa R. passed away at age 55.

Musical style

Rosenstolz's sound fused elements of pop, chanson, and rock music. Early media coverage coined the term Mondänpop to characterize their distinct style—melding cheeky lyrics about eroticism with schlager influences while avoiding kitsch. Critics observed their combination of schlager, chanson, and Neue Deutsche Welle inspirations; however, the band consistently rejected being labeled as schlager artists.

Björn Döring described their style on the 1999 album Zucker as encompassing quirky pop tunes alongside string-rich ballads, highlighting AnNa R.'s vocal versatility ranging from bel canto technique to emotionally charged delivery. Over time, Rosenstolz evolved toward mainstream pop; subsequent albums emphasized mid-tempo piano-driven guitar pop with more mature subject matter, moving away from earlier vocal flamboyance.

Plate identified two distinct phases within Rosenstolz's trajectory: concluding with Macht Liebe (2002) and commencing with Herz (2004). Their songwriting process generally began with Plate composing melodies followed by jointly written lyrics inspired by personal experiences. Common themes throughout their work included sexuality, love, and emotional expression.

Charity involvement

Rosenstolz consistently championed AIDS-related causes, gathering funds during their concerts for Deutsche AIDS-Hilfe and promoting awareness about the epidemic.

In 1993, they issued a limited edition CD titled Sanfte Verführer, with all earnings directed to Deutsche AIDS-Hilfe. Four years later, in 1997, Rosenstolz joined forces with fellow musicians on the charity album Rot ist die Liebe to support Berliner AIDS-Hilfe, which was followed by a fundraising concert at Berlin's Theater des Westens.

March 2007 saw the release of their charity single "Aus Liebe wollt ich alles wissen," with proceeds entirely donated to the Deutsche AIDS-Stiftung. The band then organized a benefit show in June 2007 at Berlin's Columbiahalle, where they presented a €100,000 contribution to Mayor Klaus Wowereit representing the foundation.

For their dedicated work in combating HIV and AIDS, Rosenstolz was honored twice: receiving the Saxon medal of honour for exceptional achievements on World AIDS Day 2009 and being awarded the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (Bundesverdienstkreuz) in August 2011.

Music accolades

Throughout their career, Rosenstolz garnered numerous esteemed German music awards, including six Goldene Stimmgabel trophies, five ECHO awards, and two Comet awards, with significant recognitions in 2003 and 2007.

In 2003, they won an ECHO for best artist website, a Comet for best national music video with "Es tut immer noch weh," and a Goldene Stimmgabel as best German pop duo.

The year 2007 marked an impressive haul of six awards: a Goldene Kamera for best national pop act, an ECHO as best national rock/pop group, two DIVA awards acknowledging best artist and best album, the Fred-Jay-Preis honoring songwriting excellence, and Peter Plate receiving the Paul-Lincke-Ring for his musical achievements.

Film, television, and other media appearances

• Early live performance clips are featured in episode 14 of the German LGBTQ+ television series Licht und Schatten.
• The track "Willkommen" from their 2004 album Herz is included in both the soundtrack and closing credits of the film Sommersturm, with scenes from the movie incorporated into its music video.
• "Gib mir Sonne" from the 2008 album Die Suche geht weiter served as the theme song for the German telenovela Anna und die Liebe, starring Jeanette Biedermann.
• In 2011, Rosenstolz wrote and performed "Weil wir Freunde sind (Der Tiger Taps Song)," which became the title song for Tiger Taps, a German children's audio drama series.

Members

• AnNa R. – lead vocals and lyricist (deceased)
• Peter Plate – keyboards, occasional vocals, songwriter, lyricist, producer

Albums

Studio releases

• Soubrette werd' ich nie (1992)
• Nur einmal noch (1994)
• Mittwoch is' er fällig (1995)
• Objekt der Begierde (1996)
• Die Schlampen sind müde (1997)
• Zucker (1999)
• Kassengift (2000)
• Macht Liebe (2002)
• Herz (2004)
• Das große Leben (2006)
• Die Suche geht weiter (2008)
• Wir sind am Leben (2011)

Additional resources

• Rosenstolz (1997). Lieb mich, wenn du kannst, nimm mich, nimm mich ganz (3rd edition, July 1998) (in German). Munich: dtv.

External links

• Rosenstolz on the Universal Music Group official site