Karel Berman
Czech actor, music educator, composer, opera singer, professor and translator
About Karel Berman
Lived 1919 – 1995 (aged 76). Karel Berman was a Czech composer, opera singer, pedagogue, translator, director and actor.
Karel Berman (14 April 1919 in Jindřichův Hradec, Czechoslovakia – 11 August 1995 in Prague, Czech Republic) was a Jewish Czech opera singer, composer, opera director, and translator.
Life After extensive musical education, Karel Berman started his career as a bass singer of opera in Opava. In 1944 he composed Suite Terezin in three movements ('Terezin', 'Horror', and 'Alone'); a work which musicologist Bret Web described as "a rare in situ tone portrait of life in a Nazi camp".
Later he was also imprisoned in Kaufering and Auschwitz. He taught at the Prague Conservatory from 1961 to 1971, and from 1964 at the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague.
Works 1944 Poupata ("Buds") Bass-baritone songs and piano Majové ráno (Eva Nonfriedová) Co se děje při probuzení (Kamil Bednář) Děti si hrají (Josef Hora) Před usnutím č. 1 (František Halas) Velikonoční (František Halas) 1938 - 1945 Reminiscences Suite Piano (first published in 2000) Terezín Suite Piano Broučci ("Glow-worms" - after the children's book by Jan Karafiát) Soprano and piano (later made world-famous by Jiří Trnka as a cartoon)
Recordings Historical recording opera arias, conducted František Dyk
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Important facts
People in Karel Berman's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Karel Berman's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Karel Berman?
Czech actor, music educator, composer, opera singer, professor and translator
When was Karel Berman born?
Karel Berman was born on 14 April 1919 in Jindřichův Hradec.
When did Karel Berman die?
Karel Berman died on 11 August 1995 in Prague.
What was Karel Berman's occupation?
Karel Berman was a composer, opera singer, pedagogue, translator, director and actor.
What nationality was Karel Berman?
Karel Berman was Czech.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Karel Berman. https://biography.guide/karel-berman/
MLA: "Karel Berman." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/karel-berman/.
Chicago: "Karel Berman." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/karel-berman/.
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