Protschka, Josef (1946– )

Czech-born German tenor. After study in Cologne he sang at Giessen and Saarbrücken, from 1977. From 1980 he appeared with Cologne Opera, notably with the tenor leads in Ponnelle's Mozart cycle, and as Tom Rakewell, Faust, Max, and Lensky. He made his Salzburg debut in 1985, as Pisandro in the Henze/Monteverdi Ulisse; he first appeared at Vienna in 1988, as Schubert's Fierrabras. He made his London debut in 1990 at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, as Florestan; his US debut was made in Das Lied von der Erde at Houston, in 1991. His recordings include the Mozart and Mendelssohn lieder (complete), Die Schöpfung, and Die schöne Müllerin.