Alfredo Kraus Trujillo (Spanish pronunciation: [alˈfɾeðo kɾaws tɾuˈxiʎo]; born November 24, 1927; died September 10, 1999) was a well-known Spanish tenor from the Canary Islands. He was professionally known as Alfredo Kraus. He was especially famous for his skill in singing roles from operas that use a style called bel canto. He was also an excellent performer of the main character in the opera Werther by Massenet. He was particularly known for singing a famous song in the opera called "Pourquoi me réveiller?"

Early years

Kraus was born in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. His father was from Austria, and his mother was from Spain. He began piano lessons when he was four years old and joined the school choir when he was eight years old. His older brother, Francisco Kraus Trujillo, who was a baritone, studied music and opera with him.

Career

After improving his singing skills by performing Spanish zarzuela on stage in Madrid and Barcelona, Kraus began his professional opera career in Cairo in 1956 as the Duke in Rigoletto, which became one of his most famous roles. In 1958, he performed the role of Alfredo at the Teatro Nacional de São Carlos in Lisbon in a production of La traviata with Maria Callas. A live recording of this performance was later released.

Kraus made his Covent Garden debut as Edgardo in Lucia di Lammermoor in 1959 and his La Scala debut as Elvino in La sonnambula in 1960. He began his American career with the Lyric Opera of Chicago in 1962 and made his Metropolitan Opera debut in 1966 in Rigoletto, the role he performed there for the last time in 1994.

In the following years, Kraus expanded his repertoire to include more Italian operas such as Lucrezia Borgia, La fille du régiment, Linda di Chamounix, Don Pasquale, and La favorita by Donizetti, as well as French operas like Roméo et Juliette, Les contes d'Hoffmann, Faust, and Lakmé. He continued to perform his well-known roles, such as Werther and Des Grieux in Manon. He also recorded rare French operas, including La jolie fille de Perth and Les pêcheurs de perles by Georges Bizet, and La muette de Portici by Daniel Auber. He performed in famous works such as Don Giovanni and Faust.

Kraus became closely associated with roles like Werther, Faust, Don Ottavio (Don Giovanni), Nemorino, and Arturo. He was also known for his performances of Spanish music, especially classic zarzuela pieces. He continued to perform these works live in Spain until the end of his career and recorded many of them for EMI Spain and his own label, Carillon.

Technique

Alfredo Kraus sang on stage until his early 70s because of his excellent singing technique and careful management of his voice. He studied voice in Milan with Mercedes Llopart. Later in his career, he asked for help from the well-known tenor Giacomo Lauri-Volpi, who taught him a special breathing method called intercostal breathing. This helped Kraus sing high notes more easily as he grew older.

Kraus was known for his highly skilled musical ability and his ability to sing high notes with ease. Because of this, many opera experts consider him one of the greatest tenors of the late 20th century. People admired his strong musical background and his deep respect for his profession. He always focused on performing music accurately, rather than showing off his wide vocal range or technical skills.

He performed in many places around the world, including the Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires, Teatro Municipal in Caracas, Teatro Municipal in Santiago, Chile, Teatro Municipal in Rio de Janeiro, and the Liceu in Barcelona.

In 1991, Kraus received the Prince of Asturias Award. In 1997, his hometown of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria opened The Alfredo Kraus Auditorium in his honor.

Later years

The death of Kraus's wife in 1997 deeply hurt him, and he stopped performing for eight months. A proud and determined man, he later returned to singing and teaching. He said, "I do not feel like singing, but I must do it because, in a way, it shows I have overcome the tragedy. Singing is a way of showing that I am still alive."

Kraus died on September 10, 1999, in Madrid, at the age of 71, after a long illness.

Videography

• The Metropolitan Opera 100th Anniversary Gala (1983), Deutsche Grammophon DVD, 00440-073-4538, 2009
• James Levine's 25th Anniversary Metropolitan Opera Gala (1996), Deutsche Grammophon DVD, B0004602-09, 2005

Gallery

• Alfredo Kraus auditorium
• Alfredo Kraus auditorium
• Alfredo Kraus auditorium
• A statue of Alfredo Kraus is located outside the auditorium.
• A photograph of Alfredo Kraus in Alginet , 1973.