A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Rokitansky, Victor
ROKITANSKY, Victor, Freiherr von, of Hungarian origin, the son of a celebrated physician at Vienna, where he was born, July 9, 1836. He studied singing chiefly at Bologna and Milan. He first appeared in England at concerts in 1856. In 62 he made his début at Prague in 'La Juive,' and fulfilled a very successful engagement there of two years. In 63 he made a few appearances at Vienna, and in 64 obtained an engagement there, and has been a member of the opera company ever since. His voice is a basso-profondo of great compass and volume, very equal in all its range; he has a commanding presence, and is an excellent actor. His operas include La Juive, Robert le Diable, Les Huguenots, Don Juan, Zauberflöte, Guillaume Tell, Le Prophete, Aïda, Faust, Medea, and Wagner's operas.
On June 17, 65, he reappeared in London at Her Majesty's as Marcel with very great success, and then sang there for four consecutive seasons, and was greatly esteemed. He played with success as Rocco, Sarastro, Leporello, Il Commendatore, Oroveso, Falstaff, Osmin (June 30, 66, on production in Italian of Mozart's 'Entfuhrung'), and Padre Guardiano in 'La Forza del Destino.' He returned for the seasons of '76 and '77 in some of his old parts, and played for the first time the King in 'Lohengrin,' and Giorgio in 'I Puritani.'
From 1871 to 1880 he filled the post of Professor of Singing at the Conservatorium of Vienna, but has now relinquished that position for private tuition, where he employs the Italian method which has formed the basis of his own great success.