Farewell interview

Do you want to enter the book of records, Mr. Lendvai?

Prof. Paul Lendvai calls it a day after over 300 broadcasts

(Bild: Reinhard Holl)

A legend says farewell: this Sunday, Prof. Paul Lendvai, at 94, will appear in the "Europastudio" for the last time. He talks to Conny Bischofberger about ORF salaries, coalitions and his adventurous, record-breaking career.

"Come to our home!", emails Lendvai twelve minutes after my interview request early one morning. His Viennese apartment is on the top floor of a Wilhelminian-style building near the Volksoper. Books as far as the eye can see. Many written by himself and translated into 10 languages, even Japanese and soon Chinese.

The almost 95-year-old is standing in the middle of it all, bright-eyed and cheerful, in his lace-up trousers and a colorful plaid shirt. A short tour, past busts of former fruit block leaders and framed awards. "Here you can see my family," says Lendvai when we arrive at his writing workshop with lots of paperwork and a large magnifying glass. He points to a group photo in sepia. "All killed, except for me and my mother." His wife Zsoka arrives with a tray and the smell of strong coffee fills the air.

Lendvai in his writing workshop. Paperwork, magnifying glass and books as far as the eye can see.

(Bild: Reinhard Holl)