Josef Protschka
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- Operatic tenor
- Academic voice teacher
Josef Protschka | |
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| Born | 5 February 1944 Prague |
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| Website | josefprotschka |
Josef Protschka (born 5 February 1944) is a German operatic tenor who also sang lieder and oratorio and made many recordings. He performed as the vocal soloist in Stockhausen's electronic composition Gesang der Jünglinge at age 12. A long-term member of the Cologne Opera, he appeared at international opera houses and festivals, with a focus on Mozart's roles such as Tamino. As an academic voice teacher, he was rector of the Hochschule für Musik und Tanz Köln from 2002 to 2009.
Born in Prague, Protschka grew up in Düsseldorf.[1] His father was a violinist who played in church orchestras.[2] In 1956 at the age of 12, he performed as the vocal soloist in Stockhausen's electronic composition Gesang der Jünglinge,[2][3] prepared by two years of studies and tape sessions with the composer.[3] A year earlier he had already sung the student in Kurt Weill's Der Jasager as part of a recording of the work for the American label MGM.[2]
Initially he studied classical philology, philosophy, German studies and literature.[2] He worked as a journalist and in adult education. Soon he devoted himself exclusively to his singing career, studying in Cologne with Erika Köth and Peter Witsch.[1]
