Benedikt Schack
Mozart's trusted friend and the original Tamino, whose voice brought some of the composer's final and most beloved characters to life.
1758–1826 (age 68)·Austrian opera singer·Birthday: February 7
Biography
Benedikt Schack was far more than a talented tenor; he was woven into the intimate fabric of Mozart's world. A composer and flautist himself, Schack shared a deep musical kinship with Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, often participating in informal readings of new works. This trust led Mozart to choose Schack for the demanding premiere of *The Magic Flute* in 1791, casting him as the noble prince Tamino. Legend holds that Schack, sitting at Mozart's sickbed, even sang parts of the unfinished Requiem with the composer in his final days. While his own compositions are largely forgotten, Schack's legacy is eternally tied to that pivotal Viennese era, his voice the first to give breath to some of opera's most enduring melodies.
#1 When Benedikt Was Born
The biggest hits of 1758
Benedikt's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1758Born
1763Started school
1771Became a teenager
1774Could drive
1776Could vote
1779Turned 21
1788Turned 30
1798Turned 40
1808Turned 50
1818Turned 60
1826Died at 68
Key Achievements
- Created the role of Tamino in the world premiere of Mozart's opera *The Magic Flute* in 1791.
- Was a close personal friend and musical collaborator of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
- Performed in the premiere of Mozart's opera *La clemenza di Tito* as one of the first singers.
Did You Know?
He was reportedly among the friends who sang parts of Mozart's unfinished Requiem at the composer's bedside before his death.
Schack was also a composer and Kapellmeister, though few of his own works survive.
He began his career singing in the court orchestra of Prince von Fürstenberg.
“Wolfgang, let us try this new duet while the ink is still wet.”
