Serbian baritone Nikola Mitic has passed away on Jan. 25, 2019.

Born on Nov. 27, 1938, in the former Kingdom of Yugoslavia, Mitic began his career when he became a member of the RTB Choir and later enrolled at the Music Academy. 

After his first semester, he became a soloist of the National Opera theater and would go on to perform such roles as Alfredo Germont in the 1973 Philadelphia Lyric Opera’s production of “La Traviata,” alongside Montserrat Caballe and Jose Carreras.

Additionally, he went on to perform around the world in such countries as Austria, France, Belgium, Spain, Italy, Germany, and Switzerland, among others.

Among his signature roles were the title role of “Rigoletto,” Luna in “Il Trovatore,” the title role of  “Eugene Onegin,” Iago in “Otello,” and the title role of “Simon Boccanegra.”

As principal baritone of the National Opera Belgrade, Mitic would tutor a number of students from Serbia and throughout Europe, among them Serbian tenor Aleksandar Dojkovic, baritone Attila Mokus, soprano Dragana Radakovic, Macedonian soprano Laura Pavlovic, and Slovenian bass-baritone Alfonz Kodric.

He will be remembered for his service to the arts as a performer as well as an educator.