Jan Křtitel Pišek

Jan Křtitel Pišek (Johann Baptist Pischek) was a Bohemian baritone who achieved notability in German-language theatres and London concert halls in the mid-nineteenth century. He was born in Mšeno on 13 October 1814, although his baptism is recorded on the 14th. He died in Sigmaringen in 1873.

Pišek abandoned the study of law in favour of singing. He made his debut in Prague in 1835 as Oroveso in Norma, though the critics did not greet him with enthusiasm. After performing in Brno, Vienna and Frankfurt, he was engaged as court singer in Stuttgart, probably in 1854, as he remained there until 1863.

In London he made his debut in 1845 with the Philharmonic Society, with which he returned to collaborate in 1846, 1847, 1849 and 1853. In 1849 he sang before Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, performed Mendelssohn's Elijah at the Birmingham Festival, and took part in operas by Kreutzer and Mozart during the German opera season at Drury Lane, where his Don Giovanni received great praise. In 1865 he returned to Prague after thirty years' absence, in the role of Rigoletto.

His repertoire embraced Mozart's and Rossini's Figaro, Don Pizarro, Spohr's Faust, the Count di Luna, Enrico, Giorgio, and the title roles of Hérold's Zampa and Marschner's Hans Heiling, as well as numerous concert pieces and lieder.

His voice, rich and expressive over a range of two octaves, was notable for its use of mezza voce and falsetto. Some critics considered his singing affected and his acting artificial and exaggerated. Berlioz, in his Memoirs, held him in high esteem and judged him perhaps the greatest dramatic singer of his time. He was also a notable pianist and composer of songs.