The Austrian bass, Erich Kaufmann, received his training in his father city Vienna and began his stage activity as a choir singer at the Theatre of Basel in 1935, where he was accepted to the ensemble as soloist in the following year 1936.
In 1936 Erich Kaufmann went to the Theatre of Reichenberg (Liberec) and then to a successful appearance in 1938 at the Volksoper Wien, to which he belonged up to his death. There he sang an abundance of roles, as Sarastro in Zauberflöte, Rocco im Fidelio, Falstaff in Lustigen Weibern von Windsor by Nicolai, Baculus in Wildschütz by Lortzing, Dursel in Der Kuhreigen by Kienzl, Tommaso in Tiefland by Eugen d'Albert, Ferrando in Troubadour, the King in Aida, Colline in La Bohème, Mesner in Tosca, Crespel in Hoffmanns Erzählungen, Zuniga in Carmen and Kezal in Verkauften Braut. In addition he appeared frequently in operetta roles (Zsupan in Zigeunerbaron, Weps in Vogelhändler, Kagler in Wiener Blut, Masaccio in Gasparone). At the Wiener Staatsoper he made guest appearances, particularly in character roles.
Recordings: Columbia (Eine Nacht in Venedig), Amadeo (Bettelstudent), Telefunken (Solo renditions of Viennese Lieder), Orfeo (Lieder and Duets of Johannes Brahms).