Der Wagner-Sänger Joseph Aloys Tichatschek – Vom Nachlass zum Netzwerk

The Richard Wagner collection in Eisenach contains the estates of several important 19th century Wagner performers. The inheritance of the Heldentenor Joseph Tichatschek provides insight into the live and influence of the tenor. Tichatschek is considered as one of the greatest German speaking tenors of his generation and performed the leading roles in the world premieres of Richard Wagner’s Rienzi und Tannhäuser. The paper provides an introduction into the extensive networks Tichatschek apparently used to promote his own career as well as the works of composers close to him, like Richard Wagner. The study focusses on Tichatschek’s connections to the German courts, newspaper editors, and artists. The daughter of the singer, Josephine Rudolph-Tichatschek – wife to the German tenor Eduard Rudolph –, appears as a so far completely unknown figure with likewise extensive networks which helped to preserve the inheritance of her father after his death.