Kurt Rydl is one of the greatest basses of our time. He was born in Vienna and studied in his home town and in Moscow. He is bearer of the First price at the competitions in Barcelona and Paris.
His repertoire includes over 100 roles from German, English, Italian, French, Russian and Czech operas. His concert programs spread out from Mozart to Penderecki and from Beethoven to Mahler.
His was the initiative for the realization of the sound recording "Christmas with World Stars" together with the three tenors and other famous artists. This recording is only one of the 30, which is able to convince you in Kurt Rydl's voice qualities.
(Recordings with the participation of Kurt Rydl: "Le nozze di Figaro" with Ricardo Muti, "Salome", "Parsifal", "Die Entführung aus dem Serail", with Viotti, "Die Zauberflöte" with Halász, "Das Rheingold " and "Siegfried" with Haitink, "Die Schöpfung" with A. Jordan, "Der Rosenkavalier" with Haitink, "Fidelio" and "Der fliegende Holländer" with Dohnányi, "Der Freischütz ", as well as several famous opera video recordings.)
Since 35 years he had about 100 participations for one season.
He was guest at almost all famous opera stages in the world.
He participated at the festivals in Bayreuth, Bregenz, Edinburgh, Munich, Verona.
The role of Rocco from the opera "Fidelio" by Ludwig van Beethoven Kurt Rydl made together with Lorin Maazel and Ricardo Muti at La Scala, with Lorin Maazel in Paris and Salzburg, with Bernstein in New York, Washington and London.
Since 1999, Kurt Rydl is an honour member of the Wiener Staatsoper.