Having initially studied piano and theory from 1947 at the University of Vienna and the Vienna Music Academy, in 1950 Eberhard Waechter began to take singing lessons with Elisabeth Radó. He made his operatic stage debut at the Vienna Volksoper as Silvio / Pagliacci in 1953 and the following year joined the Vienna State Opera. Here he quickly established himself as a singer of note, making a strong impression as Posa / Don Carlo in 1956.

The same year saw Waechter’s debut at the Salzburg Festival as Arbace / Idomeneo and at the Royal Opera House, London as the Count / Le nozze di Figaro. Later Salzburg roles included the Mozart Count (1958), the title role in Don Giovanni (1960–1961) and Orest / Ele...