Ernst Kraus

Ernst Kraus (June 8 1863 – September 5, 1941) was a German dramatic tenor. He first decided to sing when he heard Vogel in Nuremberg, and studied in Milan with Cesare Galliera, then returned to Munich to study with Anna Schimon-Regan. He debuted in Mannheim as Tamino in "Die Zauberflöte" on March 26, 1893. He came to the United States in 1894, where he was principal tenor of the Damrosch Opera Company; he returned in 1895. He was appointed the leading tenor of the Berlin Staatsoper in 1896, holding the position for twenty-seven years; during this time he distinguished himself in the German repertory. In 1901 he appeared at Bayreuth as Siegmund in "Die Walküre", in which role he made his Metropolitan Opera debut on November 25, 1903. Kraus retired from opera in 1924 to teach; he died in Wörthsee, Germany, in 1941.

References

*David Ewen, "Encyclopedia of the Opera: New Enlarged Edition". New York; Hill and Wang, 1963.

*New York Times, November 19, 1903: "More Opera Singers Here".