Josef Draxler by Bohr

Josef Draxler (1813-1891); Austrian bass.
In 1837 he began his career as a choir singer at the “Wiener Theater am Kärtnertor” and in the beginning he got only minor roles as a soloist. He got his chance when in 1854 the great bass Joseph Staudigl retired and Draxler was engaged at the “Wiener Hofoper” as his succesor. He stayed there until the end of his career in 1876. He made guest appearances in Germany at Dresden, Karlsruhe and Frankfurt a.M. His most memorable roles were Oroveso in “Norma”, Marcel in “Les Huguenots”, Bertram in “Robert le Diable”, Leporello in “Don Giovanni”, Sarastro in “Die Zauberflöte” and Rocco in “Fidelio”. His younger brother Alois Draxler was also a well known bass singer.