Vaclav Zitek

Václav Zítek, a Czech opera singer, was born on March 24, 1932, in Tisá. He began his vocal training privately and worked at the National Theatre in Prague from 1955 to 1959. From 1960 to 1969, he served as a soloist at the opera house in Ústí nad Labem. In 1969, he joined the National Theatre full-time until his retirement in 1991. Zítek's notable roles included parts in operas by Bedřich Smetana and Antonín Dvořák, as well as several characters in works by Leoš Janáček. His recording of "Alexandr Petrovič Gorjančikov" from From the House of the Dead won a Grammy Award for Best Opera Recording in 1982. Zítek performed internationally at venues such as the Bolshoi Theatre and Grand Théâtre de Bordeaux. He was made a People's Artist of the ČSSR in 1985 and received a Thalia Award in 2007.