Manuel Ortega

Manuel Ortega (born Manuel Hanke on 8 April 1980) is an Austrian pop singer best known for representing Austria at the Eurovision Song Contest 2002. He was born in Steyregg, Austria, to a Spanish mother and an Austrian father. This multicultural background shaped his music style and image. Ortega began singing at a very young age and went on to build a successful career that spans Austrian pop music while embracing his Spanish roots.

Early Life and Musical Beginnings

Ortega’s passion for music started in childhood. At age ten he joined the Florianer Sängerknaben choir, one of Austria’s oldest boys’ choirs. This early experience gave him a strong musical foundation. As a teenager, he fell in love with pop music and performed in local bands. In 1997, a major casting call launched his pop career. Ortega was chosen from over a thousand candidates to be the lead singer of a new Austrian boy band. The group (named Whatz Up) released two singles and an album before disbanding after three years. Undeterred, Ortega decided to embark on a solo career in 2001. This period of apprenticeships and performances honed his stage presence and prepared him for larger success.

Eurovision 2002 and Breakthrough

Manuel Ortega achieved his big breakthrough on the international stage when he represented Austria at Eurovision 2002 with the upbeat pop song “Say A Word”. His entry was selected as Austria’s official Eurovision Song Contest 2002 act after he won the national song competition. The contest took place in Tallinn, and Ortega’s dynamic performance captivated viewers. Ultimately, Austria finished 18th out of 24 countries in the final, earning 26 points in the tally. Due to his passionate Spanish temperament, the media dubbed him the “Austrian Ricky Martin”. This comparison highlighted Ortega’s charisma on stage and the Latin influence in his music. Eurovision 2002 opened many doors for him and laid the groundwork for his pop career in the 2000s.

Continued Success in Austria

After Eurovision, Manuel Ortega solidified his status as a pop star in Austria. In 2001 he had already scored a nationwide hit with “El Amor, La Vida,” his debut solo single. The Spanish-titled song (meaning “Love, Life”) became the Austrian summer hit of 2001, topping airplay charts and showcasing Ortega’s bilingual appeal. Following the Eurovision exposure, he released his first solo album Any Kind of Love in 2003, followed by Love, Live, Fly in 2004. His efforts were recognized when he won the Amadeus Austrian Music Award in 2003 for Best Newcomer. That same year, his Eurovision song “Say A Word” earned a nomination for National Single of the Year, confirming his place in the Austrian pop scene.

Dancing with the stars

Ortega continued to enjoy mainstream success through the mid-2000s. In 2004, he even performed at the prestigious Opera Ball in New York City, a sign of his rising profile. Two years later, in 2006, he showcased a different talent: dancing. Ortega participated in Dancing Stars, Austria’s version of Dancing with the Stars, and won first place in the show’s second season. His victory on national television made him a household name beyond the music charts. Also in 2006, he released the album Angekommen (“Arrived”), which reached No. 7 on the Austrian album charts. He embarked on a concert tour across Austria, culminating in a special performance at the Hofburg Palace for the Austrian President Heinz Fischer. Local authorities honored Ortega’s cultural contributions as well. In 2006 he received a honorary ring from his hometown of Steyregg for his achievements. By this time, Ortega had firmly established himself in Austrian pop culture.

Spanish Roots and Musical Influence

Despite building his career in Austria, Manuel Ortega has always embraced his Spanish roots. Being half-Spanish has influenced his music and public image. He often incorporated Latin pop elements and Spanish phrases into his songs. For example, his breakout hit “El Amor, La Vida” had a Spanish title and a Latin-inspired melody, reflecting his bilingual background. His lively stage persona, likely inspired by Latin pop stars, led to fans nicknaming him the Austrian Ricky Martin. Ortega’s ability to blend Austrian pop with Spanish flavor gave him a unique identity. It helped him connect with audiences in both countries. He has proudly mentioned his Spanish mother in interviews and credits his diverse heritage for his showmanship. While his professional work has been centered in Austria, Ortega maintained personal and artistic ties to Spain through language and family. This dual cultural influence made his performances stand out, especially during international events like Eurovision 2002 where his Latin dance moves and Mediterranean energy were on full display.

Later Career and Recent Projects

In the late 2000s, after his initial wave of success, Ortega’s musical output slowed down for a time. He took the opportunity to give back to the music community. In 2008, he co-founded the Vienna Vocal Academy, a school for young singers, and became a mentor and instructor there. Around this period he also appeared on other entertainment programs, including an ORF charity football show, showing his versatility beyond singing. By 2010, fans were eager for new music. Ortega released a couple of standalone singles, notably “Nur Du” (“Only You”) in 2010 and “Herzschlag” (“Heartbeat”) in 2011. These songs kept him in the public eye even as album releases were sparse.

In 2012, Manuel Ortega made a strong comeback with a new studio album titled Niemals Zu Spät (“Never Too Late”). This was his first full album in six years, and it lived up to its name. The lead single “Ohne Worte” (“No Words”) marked a successful return to the charts, giving Ortega another Top 10 hit in Austria. The album featured mainly German-language pop tracks, but it also carried touches of his Spanish background in style and rhythm. Critics and fans welcomed his return, noting that Ortega was “back, bigger and stronger than ever”. He continued to experiment with his music in the following years. In 2013 he released the catchy pop single “Genial” and a duet titled “Ich lieb dich (ist doch klar)”. Embracing his Austrian roots, Ortega later tried songs in dialect, such as the humorous tracks “I Kumm” (2018) and “Er Fischt” (2019). These releases showed his willingness to evolve and try new genres.

Live music and juror

Outside of recording, Ortega has remained a beloved figure on the Austrian live music circuit, performing at festivals and on television. He also served as a juror for talent shows and even returned to the Eurovision sphere as a member of Austria’s jury in later contests. His career has had its ups and downs, including a brief period of financial difficulty around 2011 when he reportedly had to file for personal bankruptcy, but Ortega demonstrated resilience. He bounced back through new music and business ventures, proving that it’s “niemals zu spät” (never too late) to start anew.

Personal Life

Manuel Ortega’s personal life has also been of interest to the public, and he has shared some of these details openly. In July 2011, he married his longtime girlfriend Isabella Zellmann in Vienna. The wedding was a private affair, but news of the marriage delighted fans who had followed his career since the Eurovision days. Ortega’s family background is a point of pride for him. He grew up influenced by both Austrian and Spanish cultures, thanks to his Austrian father and Spanish mother. He speaks German and Spanish, and often travels to Spain to visit relatives.

In recent years, Ortega has explored interests beyond music. He surprised many by venturing into the hospitality business. Since 2023, Manuel Ortega has been running a café in the Hietzing district of Vienna. This cozy café reflects his personal style and gives him a new way to connect with people off-stage. Balancing music and entrepreneurship, Ortega shows that he is not only a singer but also an adaptable individual with diverse talents. He continues to live in Vienna with his wife, and remains involved in music through occasional performances and mentoring young artists.