Alfredo Kraus
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Alfredo Kraus (24 November 1927 – 10 September 1999) was a Spanish tenor. His best known role was the title role in Massenet's Werther.
Kraus was born in Las Palmas, Grand Canary. He began his musical career at the age of four taking up piano lessons, singing in the school choir by age eight.
In 1956, Kraus made his professional operatic debut in Cairo as the Duke in Rigoletto, which became one of his signature roles. The following year, he sang in Alfredo at the Teatro Nacional São Carlos in Lisbon in a production of La Traviata with Maria Callas, a live recording of which was later released.
Kraus made his Covent Garden debut as Edgardo in Lucia di Lammermoor in 1959 and his La Scala debut as Elvino en La Sonnambula in 1960. He made his U.S. debut with Lyric Opera of Chicago 1962 and his Metropolitan Opera debut in 1966 in Rigoletto.
Kraus became to be virtually synonmous with such tenor di grazia roles as Faust, Nemorino, Werther, Arturo and Don Ottavio. Thanks to his superlative technique and careful husbanding of his vocal resources, Kraus sang onstage well into his mid-60s.
Kraus was also known for his performances of lighter music, notably zarzuela.
In 1991, Kraus was awarded the Prince of Asturias Award
External link
Biography and discography (http://html.rincondelvago.com/alfredo-kraus.html) (in Spanish)es:Alfredo Kraus