Baritone Josip Kašman studied law in Padova, and studied singing with Ivan Zajc in Zagreb and Giovanini in Milan. His first public performance was in Zagreb in 1869, and on 2nd October 1870 he sang the lead role for the première of the first full scale Croatian opera “Mislav” made by ivan Zajc.
Since 1875 he was performing in theatres in Turin and other Italian and European cities. In 1883 he was a member of the first opera group in Metropolitan, and from 1894 to 1896 performed in Wagner's Festival House in Bayreuth, Germany. He was one of the most prominent singers of his time, especially in the Italian bel canto repertoire. He was called the king of baritone.
Following the annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Josip Kašman deserted from the Austrian army, so he was prevented from returning to Croatia until 1909 when the ban was lifted. That year he performed in Zagreb.
The statue of Josip Kašman is located in a wider centre of Mali Lošinj, in front of the Church of Sv. Antun.
