Paul Plishka

American bass Paul Plishka was born in Old Forge, Pennsylvania on 28 August 1941 into a Ukrainian family. He studied voice at Montclair State College and with Armen Boyajian, who coached Plishka throughout his career.

His operatic debut came in 1961 with the touring company Paterson Lyric Opera. He toured the USA with the Metropolitan Opera National Company (1965-7) and, when that organisation folded, became a member of New York Metropolitan Opera in 1967.

He also performed at Baltimore Opera, Carnegie Hall, at the Grand Théâtre de Genève, at Hamburg State Opera, at the Liceu in Barcelona, Lyric Opera of Chicago, New York City Opera, Opéra de Marseille, Opera de Paris, Opera Philadelphia, the Orange Festival in France, the Salzburg Festival, San Francisco Opera, Santiago Opera in Chile, La Scala and in Strasbourg.

He retired from the Met in 2012 but was invited back for further performances in 2016/17 and 2018, singing a total of eighty-eight roles and 1,672 performances there.

Paul Plishka died at a hospice in Wilmington, North Carolina on 3 February 2025, aged eighty-three.

 

A selection of articles about Paul Plishka

Classical music news - February 2025 Obituaries - Our summary of those the classical music world has lost this month

Ensemble. Pure Joy - Puccini's 'La bohème' in high definition from New York Metropolitan Opera, heard by Maria Nockin

Ensemble. A Different Rendition - Puccini's 'Tosca' on the big screen, reviewed by Maria Nockin