14 Facts About Alfredo Kraus

Alfredo Kraus Trujillo was a distinguished Spanish tenor from the Canary islands, particularly known for the artistry he brought to opera's bel canto roles.

Alfredo Kraus began his musical career with piano lessons at the age of four, and he sang in the school choir by age eight.

Alfredo 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.

Alfredo Kraus made his American debut with Lyric Opera of Chicago in 1962, and his Metropolitan Opera debut in 1966 in Rigoletto, the role of his last performance there in 1994.

In subsequent decades, Alfredo Kraus extended his repertoire to include more Italian operas such as Lucrezia Borgia, La fille du regiment, Linda di Chamounix, Don Pasquale and La favorita by Donizetti; and French operas such as Romeo et Juliette, Les contes d'Hoffmann, Faust and Lakme, while continuing to sing his hallmark roles of Werther and of Des Grieux in Manon.

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Alfredo Kraus recorded a number of rarely performed French operas including La jolie fille de Perth and Les pecheurs de perles, both by Georges Bizet, and La muette de Portici by Daniel Auber.

Alfredo Kraus performed in some very well known works, such as Don Giovanni and Faust.

Alfredo Kraus came to be virtually synonymous with such lyric tenor roles as Werther, Faust, Don Ottavio, Nemorino, and Arturo.

Alfredo Kraus was known for his performances of Spanish music, notably many classics from the zarzuela repertoire, which he continued to perform live on stage in Spain until the end of his career, and many of which he recorded complete for EMI Spain as well as for his own label, Carillon.

Alfredo Kraus studied voice technique in Milan with Mercedes Llopart.

Alfredo Kraus was noted for extremely refined musicianship, accompanied by a seemingly effortless high register.

Alfredo Kraus was admired for his cultivated musical education and his complete respect for his chosen profession.

Alfredo Kraus performed all over the world, including the Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires, Teatro Municipal in Caracas, Teatro Municipal in Santiago, Chile, Teatro Municipal in Rio de Janeiro, and the Liceu in Barcelona.

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