Rokitansky, Victor Freiherr von

1836-1896

Hungarian basso and singingteacher; born at Vienna; received his musical education at Bologna and Milan, and made his operatic debut in 1862 at Prague, whereupon he was engaged for two years, returning afterward to Vienna, where, after several appearances in 1863, he became the next year a member of the Opera, and in 1871 was engaged as professor of singing at the Conservatory, a post he held till 1880, after which he gave private lessons. He also sang in London for the seasons from 1865 to 1869, and again in 1876 and 1877, becoming a favorite there as well as in Vienna. He possessed a deep bass voice of wide compass, which, combined with  dramatic talent and a somewhat imposing stage presence, fitted him for heavy parts, and he appeared with success in Robert le Diable, Les Huguenots, Don Juan, Magic Flute, Wilhelm Tell, Faust, various Wagner operas, etc. In the year of his death, which occurred at Vienna, was published at Leipsic a work from his pen, Uber Sanger und Singen.