Pavel Ludikar (Bass) (3. 3. 1882 Praga, † 19. 2. 1970 Vienna)

                                                                Mefistofele

His real name was Pavel Vyskočil. His father was a conductor at the Prager Opera, his mother was an contralto, who also appeared on the opera stage. First he studied law and philosophy at the University of Prague and then trained as a concert pianist. In 1901, at the age of 19, he traveled throughout North America giving piano concerts. Then studied in Prague and with Jean Lassalle in Paris and made his debut in 1904 at the National theater of Prague as Sarastro in the ‘’Magic Flute’’. During the years of World War II, Ludikar continued to perform in concerts in Germany and Austria. He taught singing in Prague from 1941-1943. In 1944 he taught master classes at the Mozarteum University of Salzburg and gave his final public concerts in that city in that year. He then returned to Prague. After the end of World War II, Ludikar wanted to move to Austria but was forbidden to leave by the now Soviet controlled government in his country. He spent the next couple years living in seclusion in the vicinity of Prague. He managed to leave the country in late 1947 upon which time he joined the faculty of the Vienna Music Academy. He taught there and gave annual masterclasses at the Salzburg Mozarteum up until his death in Vienna in 1970.

Chronology of some appearances

1911 Milano La Scala Der Rosenkavalier (Ochs) (Italian Premiere)

1911 Milano La Scala Königskinder (Fiddler) (Premiere)

1911 Buenos Aires Teatro Colón Rigoletto (Sparafucile)

1913 Buenos Aires Teatro Colón Rigoletto (Sparafucile)

1913 Buenos Aires Teatro Colón Lohengrin (Enrique)

1913 Buenos Aires Teatro Colón Ballo in maschera (Samuel)

1913 Buenos Aires Teatro Colón (Raimundo)

1914 Boston Opera Amore dei tre Re (Archibaldo)

1917 Zurich Municipal Theater Magic Flute (Leporello)

1917 Zurich Municipal Theater Elektra (Orest)

1920 Buenos Aires Teatro Colón Tristan und Isolde (Wotan)

1926-1932 New York Metropolitan Opera Turandot (Timur) (Debut)

1938 Prague Deutshen Theater Karl V (Karl V)

RECORDING FOR SALE

Ultraphon
Dětská láska (V. J. Novotný) B10128 15186
Medák (A. M. Nademlejnsky) B10128

Má dívenka (Zdeněk Fibich) B10128 15202

Elektrola
Heimatscholle (Brazdy) ORA 4623-II