Paul Plishka, a renowned bass singer celebrated for his vibrant smile and infectious laughter, passed away at the age of 83. His wife, Sharon Thomas, confirmed his death, which occurred on Monday at a hospice in Wilmington, North Carolina.
Plishka’s remarkable tenure at the Metropolitan Opera lasted for 51 years, during which he completed an impressive total of 1,672 performances. His journey with the Met began on September 21, 1967, when he made his debut as the Monk in Ponchielli’s “La Gioconda.” He shared the stage with notable singers like Renata Tebaldi, Sherrill Milnes, and Rosalind Elias. His final performance was in Puccini’s “La Bohème,” which took place on March 10, 2018.
Peter Gelb, the general manager of the Metropolitan Opera, remarked on Plishka’s legacy, describing him as a cherished figure within the company. He expressed that Plishka had one of the most distinctive paths in the organization’s history, transitioning from medium and minor roles to become a major star.
In an interview from 2012, Plishka reflected on the nervousness he felt during his debut performance, recalling the prominent opera stars he had idolized. He humorously described how nervousness caused him to perspire profusely, comparing it to a “fire hydrant.” Throughout his career, which included performing 88 different roles, he ranked ninth in the company’s history for total performances. While many of his roles were as a comprimario, he also took on significant bass parts in productions like Mussorgsky’s “Boris Godunov” and Verdi’s “Don Carlo.” For his 25th anniversary with the Met, he performed the title role in Verdi’s “‘Falstaff,” which he cherished greatly.
Born on August 28, 1941, Plishka spent his early years in Old Forge, Pennsylvania, before relocating to Paterson, New Jersey, at the age of 16. He attended Eastside High School, where a teacher encouraged him to explore opera after his performance as Jud Fry in “Oklahoma!” He continued his studies in music at Montclair State College and made his opera debut at the Paterson Lyric Opera Theater.
Following his stint with the Met’s national touring company, Plishka officially joined the Metropolitan Opera in 1967. He had a memorable moment in 1971 when he performed the role of Sacristan in Puccini’s “Tosca” during the debut of conductor James Levine. During rehearsals for that performance, baritone Peter Glossop jokingly mocked him for being an inexperienced Sacristan. However, four decades later, a colleague complimented him for bringing that minor character to life convincingly.
Beyond the Met, Plishka also graced stages at notable theaters such as Milan’s Teatro alla Scala, London’s Royal Opera, and New York City Opera. He played the Grand Inquisitor in “Don Carlo” at the Salzburg Festival in 1988. While he announced his retirement in 2012, the Met influenced him to return for an additional 30 performances of “La Bohème,” portraying the landlord Benoit and Mimì’s admirer Alcindoro between 2016 and 2018.
Plishka’s first wife, Judith Colgan, passed away in 2004, and he was preceded in death by their three sons: Paul Jr., Jeffrey, and Nikolai. Jeffrey faced a legal battle after being charged in 2009 with the murder of a 24-year-old camp counselor in Pennsylvania, but was acquitted a year later. Additionally, Plishka suffered the loss of his brother, Dr. Peter Plishka, who was found deceased in his Bronx apartment in 1984. Paul Plishka found love again and married Sharon Thomas, a stage director at the Met, in 2005. In his later years, he developed a passion for bird photography in his retirement.
