Tichatschek, Joseph (real name, Josef Aloys Tichácek)

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Tichatschek, Joseph (real name, Josef Aloys Ticháček)

Tichatschek, Joseph (real name, Josef Aloys Ticháček), noted Bohemian tenor; b. Ober-Weckelsdorf, July 11, 1807; d. Blasewitz, Jan. 18, 1886. He was the son of a poor weaver. In 1827 he went to Vienna as a medical student, but then joined the chorus at the Kärnthnertortheater, and had vocal instruction from Ciccimara. He was engaged at Graz in 1837, then sang in Vienna (1837). His career received a new impetus after his highly successful appearance as Auber’s Gustavus III in Dresden (Aug. 11, 1837); in 1838 he joined the Dresden Court Opera, where he remained one of its leading members until he was pensioned in 1861; continued to make appearances there until 1870. He created the roles of Rienzi (Oct. 20, 1842) and Tannhäuser (Oct. 19, 1845) in Wagner’s operas. Wagner mentions him often and with great praise in his autobiography.

Bibliography

M. Fürstenau, J. T. (Dresden, 1868).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire