Ivo Žídek

Ivo Žídek (4 June 1926, Kravaře – 19 May 2003, Prague) was a Czech lyric tenor, known for his vivid portrayals of character roles in the operas of Smetana, Dvořák and Janáček.

He was invited by conductor Zdeněk Chalabala to sing with the opera company in Ostrava, making his debut in the title role of Jules Massenet's Werther" in 1944.

Over the years, he portrayed not only staple roles by Smetana, Dvořák, Janáček and Martinů but also characters in the operas of Fibich, Karel Kovařovic, Otakar Ostrčil, Eugen Suchoň and Ján Cikker.

Žídek sang numerous roles in the operas of Leoš Janáček: Steva and Laca in Její pastorkyňa (Jenůfa); the triple role of Mazal, Blankytný (Azurean in the English translation) and Petřík in Výlety páně Broučkovy (The Excursions of Mr. Brouček); Albert Gregor in Věc Makropulos (The Makropulos Case); and the lovesick murderer Skuratov in Z mrtvého domu (From the House of the Dead; this performance received the 1982 Grammy Award for Best Opera Recording), a role he reprised at the 1983 American (live) premiere of the opera with the New York Philharmonic.

In the operas of Bohuslav Martinů, Žídek was known for his portrayals of Michel in Julietta, Manolios in Řecké pašije (The Greek Passion) and Fabrizio in Mirandolina.

In 1964, he appeared as the Prince in Rusalka and Skuratov in the original version of From the House of the Dead; the latter production was recorded on Supraphon the following year under the direction of Bohumil Gregor.

He publicly renounced those titles during the Velvet Revolution in November 1989 when he joined Václav Havel on the balcony overlooking the packed Wenceslas Square and led the crowds in singing the Czech National Anthem.