Magic Christian (magician)
Magic Christian, actually Christian Stelzel, ( born July 17, 1945 in Mauthausen ) is an Austrian magician, designer and author.
Magic Christian is one of the most successful magicians in German-speaking and lives as a father of two children in Vienna.
Training
After his school days in the Stubenbastei and Academic High School in Vienna, he studied industrial design at the University of Applied Arts Vienna and graduated with a Master of Arts from.
Magician
Inspired by a magic book of his father, he began at the age of thirteen years to learn to card tricks and show off. He was soon promoted by famous magicians such as Valentino Graziadei or Peter Heinz Kersten, who recognized his talent. First prizes he won at a magic competition in 1965. After completing his studies, he initially focused on his career as a designer, while he ran the magic only as an amateur. However, his growing popularity as a magician led him soon to embark on a career as an artist.
In 1968 Magic Christian win 1st place in the legendary magic competition in Weymouth was the first continental Europeans. He was three times in succession in 1973, 1976 and 1979 FISM World Champion of the division Manipulation, 1979 in the division inventions.
Initially, he appeared on stage with his real name, and he later called himself Christian from Vienna. The artist name Magic Christian comes from the graphical resolution of his own playing cards. On the back is printed in opposite directions since 1968: The Magic of Christian, in which the article and the preposition are printed much smaller.
For many years, Magic Christian is a sought-after expert on Psi phenomena. He revealed that in the 70's very popular Filipino healers worked only with tricks. In addition to James Randi, he is one of the great critics of Uri Geller.
The inventor of the tricks - magic chains and Color Changing Lighter occurs not only as a mage. He was already in a variety of plays with as an actor. Among other things, he played in 1998 and the Frog in the operetta Die Fledermaus. In 2002, he appeared in the play with The Barometer makers on the magic island of Ferdinand Raimund. He is also known for his political magic cabaret.
In 1989, Magic Christian the line of the Magic Club of Vienna and in 1989 founded the first magic youth club in Austria to find magical offspring and promote.
Since 1992, he dealt with the life of the legendary Viennese artist Johann Nepomuk Hofzinser cards.
Awards
- Multiple laureate of international congresses
- World champion of the division manipulation in 1973, 1976 and 1979
- World champion of the division Close -up inventions in 1979
- Awarding the professional title Professor by the President 2000
- Golden Rathausmann 2003
- Performing Fellowship Award 2005 (Oscar of Magic)
- Gold Decoration for Services to the Republic of Austria
Works
- Magic playing cards. Piatnik & Söhne, Vienna Spielkartenfabrik (1981 )
- Conical cards. Piatnik & Söhne, Vienna Spielkartenfabrik (1982 )
Publications
- Non plus ultra. The charm of the 19th century. About Hofzinsers life, his family, his secrets and his brilliant magic. Volume 1, Ed. Huber, Offenbach am Main 1998, ISBN 3-921785 X -74.
- Non plus ultra. Hofzinsers card arts. Hofzinsers legendary card tricks, his presentation technology, manipulation and other ratings. Volume 2, Ed. Huber, Offenbach am Main 2004, ISBN 3-921785-87-1.