Janez Lotric

Born in Zelezniki, Slovenia, Janez Lotric studied with Ksenja Vidall-Zebre, at the Ljubljana Music Academy with Otta Ondina-Klainc, and with Hilde Zadek in Vienna. He also gained further important influence during a "Corso di perfezionamento e interpretazione" with Mario del Monaco.

During his studies, in 1980, Janez Lotric made his debut as Nemorino in "L'Elisir d'Amore" at Maribor opera house, where he became a member until 1987. He won a price in 1986 in the "Toti dal monte" competition in Treviso as Riccardo from "Un Ballo in Maschera" and received a scholarship.

Further success in Slovenia, Croatia, Czech Republic and Slovakia, and several German opera houses followed. Lutz Hochstraate got to know the young tenor when he directed "Ariadne at Naxos" in Ljubljana in 1993 with Janez Lotric in the role of Bacchus. As a result of this successful collaboration, Hochstraate engaged him as Don José in "Carmen" in 1995, as well as for als Turiddu in "Cavalleria Rusticana" in 1996/97 at "Landestheater Salzburg".

In June 1996 Janez Lotric made his highly acclaimed debut at Vienna State Opera as Canio in "I Pagliacci". During that same year he also had huge success in the role of Turiddu in the Great Festival Hall in Salzburg, and made his debut at the Deutsche Oper Berlin as Manrico in "Il Trovatore". Only a few days after that debut, his Calaf in "Turandot" at Vienna State Opera was welcomed with enthusiasm.

1996 brought about yet another debut: Rodolfo in "La Bohème" in a setting of Peter Konwitschny at Graz Opera where he returned for a series of performances of "Cavalleria rusticana/I Pagliacci" in 1998. In December 1996 Janez Lotric also sang the title role in "Les Contes d'Hoffmann" at the Opéra Comique in Paris. At the beginning of 1997, he performed Don José at Hamburg State Opea and Calaf in Kopenhagen. In May 1997 he returned to Vienna State Opera as Bacchus in "Ariadne auf Naxos" and Manrico in "Il Trovatore".

Since then, Janez Lotric has sung a wide range of roles at Vienna State Opera, such as Bacchus/Ariadne auf Naxos, Jean de Leyde/Le Prophète, Turiddu/Cavalleria Rusticana, Canio/I Paggliacci, Jean/Hérodiade, Manrico/Il Trovatore, Arrigo/I Vespri Siciliani). In summer 1999 he made his debut as Florestan at the Open Air Opera Festival of Gars am Kamp (Austria) – a debut which was highly acclaimed by audiences and critics.

In March 2000, Janez Lotric has made his Paris debut as Hoffmann at "Opera Bastille" under the baton of James Conlon (Stage director: Robert Carsen).

In December 2000 Janez Lotric had his successful debut at the Scala di Milano with Manrico in "Il Trovatore".

Between 1996 and 2000 Janez Lotric had sung at Vienna State Opera in 80 performances 11 roles.