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Born: September 3, 1917 - Szucsány, Turócz, Austria-Hungary [later: Czechoslovakia; now: Sucany, Slovakia]
Died: March 4, 1972 - Greenwich, Connecticut, USA |
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The Czech-born tenor, Rudolf Petrak [Pertak, Petrak, R. Petrak, Rudolf Petrák, Rudolph Petrak], began his career with the Bratislava Opera and the Prague Opera and made his American debut in 1948 at the New York City Center as Rodolfo in the City Opera's production of La Boheme. He was a leading tenor with the City Opera Company from 1948 to 1956. His later roles with the company included Cavaradossi in Tosca, Pinkerton in Madame Butterfly, Walther in Die Meistersinger and the title role in Charles Gounod's Faust.
Rudolf Petrak sang at major opera, houses in Europe and South America, and as a soloist with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, Philadelphia Orchestra and other ensembles. In 1960 when he sang at the Philadelphia Orchestra's presentation of Carl Orff's Carmina Burana in Carnegie Hall, Harold C. Schonberg, The New York Times music critic, noted: “Everything sounded, effortless and clear, even the high D that Mr. Petrak took in falsetto.”
Rudolf Petrak retired in 1967 five years ago. He died on March 4, 1972 of a heart ailment in Greenwich, Connecticut, where he lived. His age was 54. He was survived by his widow, the former Arlene Tomkins; two sons, Peter and Evan, and a daughter, Valerie. |
