[2] The training school, praised for its musical character[3][2] as well as visits to the Dresden Semperoper, especially the performances of Smetana's The Bartered Bride with Richard Tauber,[2] reinforced his desire to sing, which is why he tested his voice with the help of Czech baritone Hans Pokorny.
[4][2] The pedagogue working in a closed classroom thus became, via the intermediate station of lyric tenor, a heroic tenor on the wide stage of the Dresden State Opera, which was equipped with a theatre ensemble of world reputation, consisting of Marta Fuchs, Friedrich Plaschke, Ivar Andresen, Kurt Böhme, Paul Schöffler, Max Lorenz, Erna Berger and now Rudolf Dittrich.
[5][2] Dittrich gave guest performances in Berlin, Hamburg, Vienna, Munich, Barcelona and Geneva, to name only the most famous opera cities.
[Note 2] In 1948, he only sang Narraboth in the Salome performance in the makeshift Kulturscheune Bühlau and Tamino in the first Mozart production in the newly created Kleines Haus.
[Note 3] His loyalty to his hometown was also expressed in the fact that instead of following appointments to Vienna or Munich[6] he preferred to co-found the workers' opera Sachsenwerk [de] Dresden-Niedersedlitz and served as its advisor.
[7][8][3][2] In his old age, the man appointed honorary member of the Dresden State Opera in 1967[1] never missed a premiere, and if he had anything to criticise or suggest beyond mere interest, he always found grateful open ears.