Jindřich Jindrák

Johan van Dongen judged Schubert’s ‘Doppelgänger’ as baritone Jindřich Jindrák’s best performance during the finals, and the critic of Algemeen Dagblad thought him at least equal to First prize winner and best singer of the competition, Károly Schmidt. Even though he received but an Honorary Diploma, Jindrák used it to best avail, since from 1960 onwards, his career in Czechoslovakia boomed. He became a star with the Prague National Opera, and through LP recordings on the Supraphon label, as well as through preserved radio and Czech Television broadcasts, dozens of his appearances have been preserved for posterity. In 1960, he was King Matyá in Dvorak’s King and Charcoal Burner. In 1961 he was The peasant in Dvorak’s Cunning Peasant. In 1962 he appeared in Smetana’s The Brandenburgers in Bohemia (on CD). With the Prague National Opera he appeared in Edinburgh, 1964, where he sang King Vladislav in Smetana’s Libuse. There is a 1964 video of him as Tomeš in Smetana’s The kiss. In 1965 he recorded Dvorak’s ‘Biblical songs’ for Supraphon, followed in 1969 by Jiri Pauers Little Red Riding Hood. From 1970, there’s a broadcast recording of his as Premysl in Fibich’s Sarka. There are videos of Krušina in Smetana’s the bartered bride (1971), and as Bohouš z Harasova in Dvorak’s Jacobin (1974).

1973 saw a broadcast of the rarely performed Krejci opera, Uproar in Ephesis, and his appearance as Valentin (voice) in the film version of Gounod’s Faust. Another filmed opera was the 1974 telecast of Foerster’s Eva. In 1977 he appeared at the Czech radio as Vladislav in Smetana’s Dalibor. In 1978 we have him in the Act I duet ‘Favella il Doge,’ from Verdi’s Simon Boccanegra, with Marcela Machotková as Amelia. 1979 brought a recording of Jiri Pauer’s Zuzanna Vojirova, with Gabriela Benackova. More information on and photos of Jindřich Jindrák are welcome at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it