Austria proves no love is wasted as country celebrates young singer's Eurovision win

The winner of this year's Eurovision was yesterday hailed for "singing Austria into the spotlight" with a song that nods to the country's rich operatic heritage as well as modern music.

- Angela Giuffrida Martin Belam Nadeem Badshah

JJ, an Austrian-Filipino countertenor, won with Wasted Love, an operatic ballad about unrequited love that mutates into a techno club anthem. JJ overcame a strong challenge from Israel's entry, New Day Will Rise performed by Yuval Raphael, in the competition on Saturday in Basel, Switzerland.

JJ was applauded by the Austrian chancellor, Christian Stocker, who said the singer was writing musical history, and Beate Meinl-Reisinger, foreign minister, who wrote on X: "Dear JJ, you have moved Europe with your voice and sung Austria into the spotlight."

Alexander van der Bellen, the country's president, said in a video posted on X: "What a success! What a voice! What a show!" he exclaimed. "All of Austria is happy."

The Philippine consulate general in Frankfurt also gave congratulations on Facebook. "What an incredible moment - Filipino pride on the European stage!" she said.

JJ, 24, whose real name is Johannes Pietsch, flew back to Vienna yesterday, holding up his trophy in one hand and a big bouquet of roses in the other. He smiled, wiped away tears and told the crowd who came to greet him, "that victory is for you".