Description

PAVEL LUDIKAR (PRAGUE, 3 MARCH, 1882 † VIENNA, 19 FEBRUARY, 1970)

 

 

 

 

Pavel Ludikar (born Pavel Vyskočil) was born into a musical family in Prague. His father worked as a conductor at the Prague Opera, and his mother was a contralto who also performed on the opera stage. Initially, Ludikar pursued law and philosophy at the University of Prague but later shifted his focus to music, training as a concert pianist. At 19, in 1901, he embarked on a tour across North America, showcasing his piano skills. However, his true calling emerged when he studied singing in Prague and under Jean Lassalle in Paris.

In 1904, Ludikar made his operatic debut as Sarastro in Mozart’s The Magic Flute at the National Theatre in Prague. Throughout his career, he gained recognition for his deep, resonant bass voice, performing extensively across Europe. During World War II, Ludikar continued performing in concerts throughout Germany and Austria, remaining active as a singer.

From 1941 to 1943, he taught voice in Prague and later moved to Salzburg, where he joined the Mozarteum University, conducting master classes until the end of the war. After World War II, Ludikar sought to leave Soviet-occupied Czechoslovakia for Austria but faced restrictions. He finally managed to move in 1947 and joined the Vienna Music Academy faculty, where he continued to teach and offer master classes at the Salzburg Mozarteum.

Ludikar remained active in the musical world until his death in Vienna in 1970, leaving behind a legacy as both a performer and an influential vocal pedagogue.

 

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)

 

TRACKLIST

 

 

1. Dětská láska (V. J. Novotný) B10128 15186 Ultraphon
2. Dobrú noc, má milá (A. M. Nademlejnsky) B 10129 Ultraphon
3. Forza del Destino (Verdi) Solenne in quest’ora (w. Schicht) 2EA897 HMV
4. Heimatscholle (Brazdy) ORA 4623-II Electrola
5. Ja vas mel rad (B. Seremetey) B 10313 Ultraphon
6. Largo (Dvorak) E-12173 Ultraphon
7. Loučení, loučení! (Česka národni písen) (Antonin Bednàr) B 10314 Ultraphon
8. Má dívenka (Zdeněk Fibich) B10128 15202 Ultraphon
9. Medák (A. M. Nademlejnsky) B10128 Ultraphon
10. Only in song (Dvorak) E-12173 Ultraphon
11. Pisen O Blese (Mussorgsky) B 10127 Ultraphon
12. Prodana nevesta (Smetana) Kazdy jen tu svou B 12296 Ultraphon
13. Prodana nevesta (Smetana) Mladik slusny with Marie Budikova and Zdenek Otava F 12298 Ultraphon
14. Prodana nevesta (Smetana) Znam jednu divu (Weiß ich doch eine, die hat Dukaten) B 12296 Ultraphon
15. Slobodenka tāžky je, tāžky (Antonin Bednàr) B 10314 Ultraphon
16. Snici Jezero (Der träumende See) (Fibich) B 10313 Ultraphon