Ernst Kozub

Who was Ernst Kozub?

Ernst Kozub was a German tenor and opera singer.

Kozub was born in Duisburg, Germany. Though his early death prevented him from fully realising his promise, he stands out as one of the notable heldentenor voices of the 1960s. He is best known for his Wagnerian roles, including Erik in Der fliegende Holländer. Because of the quality of his voice, John Culshaw cast him as Siegfried in the Decca recording of Der Ring des Nibelungen, but his ailing health, which prevented him mastering the role within the short period of time given him by Decca led to his replacement at the last minute by Wolfgang Windgassen.

Kozub died in 1971 in Bad Soden, having only performed his last Tannhäuser in Italy three weeks before his death.