Oskar Czerwenka

Oskar Czerwenka (5 July 1924 – 1 June 2000) was an Austrian operatic bass and academic teacher. He was a member of the Vienna State Opera from 1951 to 1986, performing in 75 roles, including his signature role as Ochs auf Lerchenau, and participated in premieres of new operas. In addition to his singing career, Czerwenka was an author, visual artist, and illustrator, and also performed in concerts. He received several awards during his lifetime, and the state music school in his hometown was named in his honor.

Career Born in Vöcklabruck, Czerwenka grew up there. He studied international commerce and then began private opera studies in Vienna with Otto Iro. He made his debut on stage at the Graz Opera in 1947. He became a member of the Vienna State Opera in 1951, where he stayed to 1986, appearing in 1084 performances at the house. Title Kammersänger (1962) Title Professor (1976) Ehrenring and Girardi-Medal of Graz (1983) Ehrenring and Honorary membership of the Vienna State Opera (1983)

Literature David M. Cummings (ed.): International Who’s Who in Music and Musicians Directory. 14. Auflage. Melrose Press Ltd., Cambridge, UK,. Peter Dusek, Volkmar Parschalk: Nicht nur Tenöre. Das Beste aus der Opernwerkstatt. Herausgegeben von den Freunden der Wiener Staatsoper. Jugend und Volk, Wien 1988, (Vol. 3). Oesterreichisches Musiklexikon. Éditions of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna 2002, (volume 1) . The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians. Macmillan, London 1980.