Viktor Madin

Viktor Madin was an Austrian bass-baritone who taught briefly at the Military Academy in Wiener Neustadt before studying voice at the Vienna Music Academy, where he was discovered by Gustav Mahler. He made his debut at the Vienna Court Opera in 1908 and remained an ensemble member until 1944, continuing as a guest for almost a decade more; he created the Lackey in the premiere of the revised Ariadne auf Naxos in 1916 and the One-Eyed Man in the premiere of Die Frau ohne Schatten in 1919. Over nearly 40 years at the house, he sang some 250, mostly small, roles in more than 7,000 performances. He also sang regularly at the Salzburg Festival from 1922, and was made a Kammersänger and, in 1966, an honorary member of the Vienna State Opera.