Alfredo Kraus

Spanish operatic tenor, born 24 Nov. 1927 in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria – died 10 Sept. 1999 in Madrid. Austrian father and Spanish mother. Brother of baritone Francisco Kraus. Debuted in 1956. Kraus came to be virtually synonymous with such lyric tenor roles as Werther, Faust, Don Ottavio (Don Giovanni), Nemorino, and Arturo. He was also 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.