Kraus, Ernst (1863 - 1941)

German tenor

Ernst Kraus in Tannhäuser de Wagner, 1913 (Motisi collection)

Although he didn't make his professional debut until the age of 30, Ernst Kraus quickly established himself as one of the leading Wagner tenors of his generation. His Siegfried at the Bayreuth Festival from 1899 to 1909 quickly became a benchmark. Ernst Kraus is still considered one of the most important Wagnerian Performers singers in the history of singing.

After his first engagement at the Mannheim Opera and a three-year tour of the USA, Kraus remained with the Berlin Hofoper until his retirement in 1924. However, his repertoire was by no means limited to Richard's roles Wagner. He took part in the Berlin premieres of operas by Siegfried Wagner , Hans Pfitzner, Richard Strauss, Ferdinand Le Borne and Ethel Smyth, among others.

He also performed internationally in London, Milan, Paris, Vienna, Munich and Dresden, Frankfurt-am-Main, Zurich and Brussels. During the 1903-1904 season, he sang Siegmund, Tannhäuser, Lohengrin, Tristan, Siegfried and Florestan at the Metropolitan Opera in New York.

More than a hundred recordings still bear witness to his art today.

Discover the artist's world through various documents: each image opens the door to one of his interpretations, his portraits in civilian clothes, his autographs or press articles about him from the period