Josef  Skarka

Was born in 1981 in Brno. After graduation at the Brno Conservatory, he was accepted to the Academy of Music in Prague in 2003. He’d been studying there under tutelage of professor Rene Tucek. After obtaining Bachelor grade he continues studying on Master degree with professor Miloslav Podskalsky.

Josef Skarka has established himself as one of the foremost young singers of bass-baritone voice. His repertoir ranges from Gregorian chant (since 2007 he will collaborate with David Eben and his Schola Gregoriana Pragensis), or baroque music (projects with Collegium 1704, Collegium Marianum, Ars Brunensis), to opera (in 2006/2007 season he will appear on the stage of National Theatre in Prague and in 2007 he made his debute as Figaro in La nozze di Figaro, J. K. Tyl Theatre in Pilsen).

He is favourite performer of many ensembles and orchestras of classical music. Notably he collaborated with Prague orchestra Berg with conductor Peter Vrabel, focusing on modern and contemporary authors (Poulenc, Ravel, Jezek). After well-acclaimed performances with that orchestra their union continued with many concerts in the 2006/2007 season. With Roxy Ensemble and its artistic leader Tomas Hanak he performed selected arias from Mendelssohn‘s oratorio Elias. His succesful co-operation with Zlin Philharmonic Orchestra follows with special Christmas concert in the December. With the well-known Ars Brunensis Chorus he was invited to perform Vesperi and fragments from the Mass  by L. Boccherini at the International Music Festival L´autonno musicale di Como in Italy.

He performs regularly well-received recitals, often accompanied by the pianist Richard Pohl. One of their first success includes presentation during International Musíc Festival Moravian Autumn 2004 (Songs by Dvorak and Janacek) or concert performance at the Festival of Czech Music under the auspices of Sir Charles Mackerras.

His most recent success include 2nd prize on the International Singer Competition of Antonin Dvorak in Karlovy Vary, where he received also special award for the performance of Dvorak’s Biblical Songs and prize of the Baerenreiter Edition. He performed abroad as Figaro and Papageno (Japan, Germany) and was invited to present his artistry in Graz and Fuldau.

Josef Skarka is now focusing on improving his prominent position among the youngest generation of bass (bass-baritone) singers. He specializes on the Lieder repertoire, but also devote himself strongly to the performance of contemporary works, as well as the early music. He is praised by the audience and reviewers (Harmonie magazine) for his artistic nobility, clarity of style and powerful sense of the expression.