Zdeněk Plech, bass

Plech ZdeněkFoto: Archiv umělce

Zdeněk Plech was born in Brno in 1977; he studied at the Brno Conservatory and the Janáček Academy of Performing Arts with Marta Beňačková. He is currently perfecting his technique under leading soloist at the National Theatre for many years, Václav Zítek. During his studies he was a prize-winner of the M. S. Trnavský International Singing Competition (1998) and a finalist in the prestigious Ferrucio Tagliavini Bel Canto Competition in Graz (2002). Noted composer Ilja Hurník wrote a one-act opera especially for Zdeněk Plech’s voice.

While he was still studying he was given a short engagement at the Moravian Theatre in Olomouc and, in the years 2000-2004, he was a soloist at Brno’s National Theatre (singing around two dozen roles such as Ramfis in Aida, Colline in La bohème and Burgrave Filip in The Jacobin). He has been performing in Prague’s National Theatre since 2004.  

He is also a frequent guest in opera houses abroad (Cincinnati and Phoenix in the USA, San Sebastian in Spain). He has frequently appeared at the open air festival in the Austrian city of Gars (in Tosca alongside Mary Zampieri), and he created several roles for the Canadian Opera Company in Toronto. He gave his debut at Berlin’s State Opera in December 2006, where he has sung the role of the King in the opera Aida. 

Zdeněk Plech also boasts a broad concert and oratorio repertoire (e.g. Dvořák’s Stabat Mater, Verdi’s Requiem) which he has performed in many countries and has also appeared with some fine orchestras at home and abroad (Bamberger Symphoniker, Orchestre National de France, Gunma Symphony in Japan, Sao Paulo Symphony Orchestra, the BBC Symphony in Great Britain). With the latter he recorded Antonín Dvořák’s Biblical Songs in April 2008, conducted by Tomáš Hanus.  

He also has other recordings to his name, such as The Cunning Little Vixen (BBC), Stabat Mater (Sony Classical), The Excursions of Mr Brouček (Deutsche Grammophon), Christmas with Eva Urbanová (Supraphon) and Thanks to the Tones (Radioservis). 

Apart from classical music he also appears in musicals, one of his successes being the Prague production of Cats (Thálie Award 2004 nomination). He has written two musicals himself, entitled The Prodigal Son (Marnotratný syn) and The Preacher (Kazatel). 

Zdeněk Plech won the Komerční banka Prize for Best Stage Performance at the National Theatre for the year 2005.