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Alfredo KrausOne of the most noble tenors of the twentieth century
Date of Birth: 24.09.1927
Country:  Spain |
Content:
Biography of Alfredo Kraus
Alfredo Kraus, one of the noblest tenors of the 20th century, was often referred to as one of the most elegant tenors of the era. His name never appeared in scandalous "yellow press" headlines and was hardly known to those distant from the arts. A man of refined intelligence and gifted by God with a magnificent lyric tenor voice, Alfredo Kraus was always an artist for true connoisseurs.
Early Life
Alfredo Kraus was born on September 24, 1927, in the Canary Islands, Spain. "My father was Austrian, and my mother was from Spain," Kraus recalled. "As far as I can remember, music always filled our home. My father had a magnificent baritone voice, but he never performed for an audience, singing purely for his own pleasure. My mother also had a very good soprano voice, so my brother and I had plenty to listen to."
At the age of eight, Alfredo began singing in a church choir. After finishing school, he intended to pursue music professionally, but his father insisted that Alfredo complete university and obtain some kind of specialization. Kraus enrolled in the electrical engineering faculty and began studying to become an engineer.
Discovering his Passion for Opera
One day, he heard a radio program featuring Maria Caniglia and Beniamino Gigli. Their voices shook Alfredo to the core, and he firmly decided that one day he would step onto the stage and sing just as well. Kraus made his professional debut in 1956, in the opera "Rigoletto". After that, Alfredo performed in Lisbon, Chicago, Cairo, and all around the world. He portrayed the incomparable Count Almaviva, the magnificent and resourceful Ottavio in "Don Giovanni", and the tender Ernesto in "The Elixir of Love".
Those fortunate enough to know Alfredo personally, without the mask of his stage persona, always noticed his resemblance to his numerous stage characters: always noble, well-groomed, with impeccable manners - a true gentleman.
Acting Career
Alfredo Kraus also played several roles in films. His screen debut took place in the late 1950s when he portrayed the opera singer Gaiarre in an Italian film. A few years later, Kraus participated in the filming of another movie, the comedy "The Vagabond and the Star".
Kraus performed until his very last days, and only once in his long artistic life did he briefly leave the stage. This happened in 1997 when his wife passed away. Kraus took an eight-month break from performing but eventually returned, stating, "I have no desire to sing, but I must come back because the stage is my life." However, by this time, Alfredo Kraus was already fighting cancer. He passed away on September 10, 1999, in Madrid, at the age of 71.
