Volksoper Vienna mourns the death of Kammersänger Harald Serafin (93)

Volksoper Vienna mourns the death of Kammersänger Harald Serafin (93)

On September 15, 2025, the Viennese cultural world mourns the loss of one of its greatest sons: Harald Serafin, an audience favorite and honorary member of the Volksoper, passed away at the age of 93. Born on December 24, 1931 in Lithuania, fate took him to Bamberg in turbulent times, where his family began a new life.

In 1939, due to the chaos of war, the family fled Lithuania to East Prussia and later to Bamberg, where they opened a textile shop. Harald dropped out of his medical studies to pursue his passion for music. He studied singing in Berlin and Nuremberg and started his career in various cities in Switzerland and Germany.

A meteoric rise

Serafin celebrated his breakthrough at the Zurich Opera House when he played Eisenstein in Otto Schenk's brilliant production of “Die Fledermaus”. This role ensured that he became known far beyond the borders of Switzerland. His performance as Danilo in “The Merry Widow,” which he sang over 1,700 times around the world, became particularly legendary. According to information from the Volksoper, Serafin will be remembered not only as a talented singer, but also as a “singing bon vivant,” which underlines his charm and stage presence.

In 1967 he moved to the Vienna Volksoper, where he made his debut in 1966 as Danilo. In the years up to his departure from the stage in 2008, he appeared at the Volksoper a total of 424 times, including eight premieres. His varied roles included characters such as Count von Eberbach and Horace Vander Gelder in “Hello, Dolly!”

Commitment and awards

After a vocal cord operation in 1989, Serafin initially withdrew from active singing, but in 1992 took over the directorship of the Mörbisch Lake Festival. Under his leadership, the festival achieved great fame, attracting up to 220,000 visitors per season. Through his own stage presence and humorous speeches, he maintained contact with the audience and soon became the face of the Lake Festival.

Serafin has received several awards for his achievements, including the Cross of Honor for Science and Art, 1st Class in 2001 and the Gold Medal of Honor of the Federal Capital Vienna in 2007. In 1985 he received the honorary title of “Kammersänger”, which underlines his outstanding achievements in the field of classical music. His many years of commitment are valued as exceptional by the Volksoper and his colleagues.

After his time on stage, Serafin was also active in the media landscape, including as a juror on the well-known ORF celebrity dance show “Dancing Stars”. In 2013, he published his autobiography, "It Wasn't All Wonderful," in which he reflected on his rich life and experiences behind the scenes in the music business.

Harald Serafin will never be forgotten by the Volksoper and the entire Viennese cultural scene as a great artist and valued colleague. His creative legacy is a lasting memory for all who knew and admired him.