Richard Samek

Tenor Richard Samek was born in Třebíč, western Moravia. He studied opera voice with Anna Barová at the Janáček Academy of Music in Brno, and after graduation furthered his training privately, with Natalia Romanová. He made his debut at the National Theatre in Brno, as Faust (Boito, Mefistofele), subsequently creating on the same stage the role of Pierre Bezukhov (Prokofiev, War and Peace). Since August 1, 2006, he has been soloist of the Prague State Opera, where he has added to his repertoire various parts in the company’s productions of Bernstein’s opera Candide (Governor-Vanderdendur-Ragotski), Puccini’s Manon Lescaut (Edmondo), Verdi’s Otello (Cassio), and Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor (Arturo), as well as appearing in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte (Tamino), Puccini’s Turandot (Pang), Verdi’s Nabucco (Ismael), and Puccini’s La bohème (Rodolfo). Since January 1, 2007, he has coupled this engagement with that of soloist at the J.K. Tyl Theatre in Plzeň, where he sings the roles of the Duke (Verdi, Rigoletto), Tamino (Mozart, Die Zauberflöte), the Prince (Dvořák, Rusalka), Rodolfo (Puccini, La bohème), Jeník (Smetana, The Bartered Bride), Rinuccio (Puccini, Gianni Schicchi), and others. Since 2008 he has guest appeared at the National Theatre in Prague, where he sings in the current season, 2011/2012, the parts of Belmonte (Mozart, Die Entführung aus dem Serail), and Nathanaël and Spalanzani (Offenbach, Les Contes d’Hoffmann). Since 2010 he has been permanent guest of the Staatsoperette Dresden, where he has created the title roles of Strauss’ Der Zigeunerbaron, and Lehár’s Der Graf von Luxemburg. The 2011/2012 season will see him as Števa (Janáček, Jenůfa), in the French opera houses of Rennes, Limoges, and Reims.

Richard Samek has received numerous awards from international competitions, including third prize in the opera category, second prize in the song category, and Talent of the Year Award from the Antonín Dvořák Singing Competition in Karlovy Vary, and third prize with New Talent Award from the Mikuláš Schneider-Trnavský Voice Competition. A dedicated concert artist, he has so far appeared, apart from many European countries, also in Canada and Japan, working with major chamber and symphony orchestras, his commitments including among others the tenor part in Janáček’s Glagolitic Mass at Tokyo’s Suntory Hall in 2010 (Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra conducted by Jakub Hrůša). He has been invited to prestigious international music festivals (Prague Spring, Moravian Autumn, Prague Dvořák Festival, Prague Autumn, Janáček Festival in Hukvaldy, and others).