About this Artist

KURT RYDL is considered one of the greatest bass singers of our time. He was born in Vienna, Austria and studied in Vienna and Moscow. He won first prize in competitions in Barcelona and Paris. His first operatic engagements were in Linz/Stuttgart 1972-1977. In 1976 he became a permanent member of the Vienna State Opera; he was awarded the title of Kammersänger in 1986; he was elevated to honorary member of the Vienna State Opera in 1999; and he was awarded the Austrian Medal of Honor for Art and Science in 2001.

Kurt Rydl's operatic repertoire comprises more than 80 roles in German, Italian, French, Russian, and Czech works. He has performed in the most important and renowned opera houses worldwide. Rydl's concert repertoire range from Mozart to Penderecki and from Beethoven to Mahler. Keeping up with his heritage, Rydl endeavors to keep the traditional Wiener Lied alive.

Rydl has performed to acclaimed success at world-class music festivals in the world for opera like: Bayreuth, Bregenz, Edinburgh, Munich, Salzburg, and Verona. Rydl has performed with leading renowned conductors as Maazel, Muti, Sinopoli, Celibidache, Giulini, Dohnányi, Viotti, Karajan, and Sawallisch.

Kurt Rydl recorded the CD Christmas with World Stars with the Three Tenors and other well-known artists. This CD added to the more than 30 CDs already in his discography.