A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Tichatschek, Joseph

by Alexis Chitty

TICHATSCHEK, Joseph Alois, born July 11, 1807, at Ober Weckelsdorf, in Bohemia. He began by studying medicine, but abandoned it for music, and received instruction in singing from Ciccimara, a favourite Italian singing master. In 1830 he became a chorus singer at the Kärnthnerthor theatre, was next appointed chorus inspector, played small parts, and afterwards, those of more importance, viz. Idreno ('Semiramide'), Alphonse ('Stumme'), and Raimbaud ('Robert'). He sang for two years at Gratz, and again at Vienna, as principal tenor. On Aug. 11, 1837, he made his début at Dresden as Gustavus III. (Auber), with such success as to obtain an engagement for the following year. At this period he attracted the attention of Schroeder-Devrient, who gave him the benefit of her advice and experience, with the result of a long and intimate friendship, which terminated only with her death. Until his retirement in 1870, he remained permanently in Dresden, where, on Jan. 16, as Idomeneo, he celebrated the 40th anniversary of his professional career, having previously, on Jan. 17, 1863, celebrated his 25th anniversary at Dresden, as Hernando Cortes [App. p.799 "Fernando"] (Spontini). His repertoire consisted of the tenor parts in the operas of Gluck, Mozart, Beethoven, Weber,^[1] Marschner, Méhul, Boieldieu, Auber, Nicolo, Meyerbeer, Spontini, Flotow, Spohr, etc.; and on Oct. 20, 42, and Oct. 19, 45 respectively, was the original Rienzi, and Tannhäuser. In 1841 he sang for a few nights in German at Drury Lane Theatre as Adolar, Tamino, Robert, etc.; also at Liverpool and Manchester, and is thus described by a contemporary 'Herr Tichatschek has proved himself the hit of the season; he is young, prepossessing, and a good actor; his voice is excellent, and his style, though not wanting in cultivation, is more indebted to nature than art.'^[2] [App. p.799 "add date of death, Jan. 18, 1886."]

[ A. C. ]

1. On Oct. 13, 1842, he sang the part of Max on the occasion of the hundredth performance of 'Der Freischütz,' a part he sang no less than 106 times during his career up to 1863.
2. Musical World.' June 17, 1841.