Ernst Kraus
Encyclopedia
Ernst Kraus was a German
dramatic tenor
who made his mark in the operas of Richard Wagner
. He first decided to embark on an operatic career when he heard leading singers performing in Nuremberg
. He studied voice initially in Milan
with Cesare Galliera and then returned to Munich
to finish his tuition with Anna Schimon-Regan.
Kraus debuted in Mannheim
as Tamino in Die Zauberflöte on March 26, 1893. He came to the United States
in 1894, where he was engaged as principal tenor of the Damrosch Opera Company
; he returned in 1895. He was appointed the leading tenor of the Berlin Staatsoper in 1896, holding that position for 27 continuous years. During this period, he distinguished himself in the German repertory. In 1901 he appeared at the Bayreuth Festival
as Siegmund in Die Walküre
, in which role he made his New York
Metropolitan Opera
debut on November 25, 1903.
He retired from opera in 1924 in order to teach, and died in Wörthsee
, Germany
, in 1941. His voice was noted in his prime for its exceptional power and solidity rather than for its beauty or suavity of phrasing. It is preserved on a number of acoustic discs which he made prior to World War I
. Some of these are available on CD anthologies of historical Wagner recordings.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
dramatic tenor
Tenor
The tenor is a type of male singing voice and is the highest male voice within the modal register. The typical tenor voice lies between C3, the C one octave below middle C, to the A above middle C in choral music, and up to high C in solo work. The low extreme for tenors is roughly B2...
who made his mark in the operas of Richard Wagner
Richard Wagner
Wilhelm Richard Wagner was a German composer, conductor, theatre director, philosopher, music theorist, poet, essayist and writer primarily known for his operas...
. He first decided to embark on an operatic career when he heard leading singers performing in Nuremberg
Nuremberg
Nuremberg[p] is a city in the German state of Bavaria, in the administrative region of Middle Franconia. Situated on the Pegnitz river and the Rhine–Main–Danube Canal, it is located about north of Munich and is Franconia's largest city. The population is 505,664...
. He studied voice initially in Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
with Cesare Galliera and then returned to Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
to finish his tuition with Anna Schimon-Regan.
Kraus debuted in Mannheim
Mannheim
Mannheim is a city in southwestern Germany. With about 315,000 inhabitants, Mannheim is the second-largest city in the Bundesland of Baden-Württemberg, following the capital city of Stuttgart....
as Tamino in Die Zauberflöte on March 26, 1893. He came to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1894, where he was engaged as principal tenor of the Damrosch Opera Company
Damrosch Opera Company
The Damrosch Opera Company was an American opera company which existed from 1894 until 1900.The company was organized by Walter Damrosch, and was meant to present German opera; in this capacity it did much to advance the cause of Richard Wagner's music in the United States...
; he returned in 1895. He was appointed the leading tenor of the Berlin Staatsoper in 1896, holding that position for 27 continuous years. During this period, he distinguished himself in the German repertory. In 1901 he appeared at the Bayreuth Festival
Bayreuth Festival
The Bayreuth Festival is a music festival held annually in Bayreuth, Germany, at which performances of operas by the 19th century German composer Richard Wagner are presented...
as Siegmund in Die Walküre
Die Walküre
Die Walküre , WWV 86B, is the second of the four operas that form the cycle Der Ring des Nibelungen , by Richard Wagner...
, in which role he made his New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
Metropolitan Opera
Metropolitan Opera
The Metropolitan Opera is an opera company, located in New York City. Originally founded in 1880, the company gave its first performance on October 22, 1883. The company is operated by the non-profit Metropolitan Opera Association, with Peter Gelb as general manager...
debut on November 25, 1903.
He retired from opera in 1924 in order to teach, and died in Wörthsee
Wörthsee
Wörthsee is a municipality in the district of Starnberg in Bavaria, Germany....
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, in 1941. His voice was noted in his prime for its exceptional power and solidity rather than for its beauty or suavity of phrasing. It is preserved on a number of acoustic discs which he made prior to World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. Some of these are available on CD anthologies of historical Wagner recordings.