Ernst Kraus

Ferdinand Ernst Konrad Hermann Kraus ( born June 8, 1863 in Erlangen, † September 5, 1941 in Walchstadt on Worthsee ) was a German heroic tenor.

Life

Ernst Kraus was born on June 8, 1863 in Erlangen old town of wedlock, the son of Helen babetta Schmidtner, the daughter of a Strumpfwirkergesellen, house number 721 ( Bayreuther Str 2). His full name was Ferdinand Ernst Konrad Hermann Schmidtner. It was only done on the highest resolution of the Ministry of the Interior dated July 19, 1881, possibly in connection with the launch on April 14, 1881 death of his mother, the name change in Kraus. He grew up in very modest circumstances, first at Erlangen (harp lane 8) and later in Munich. After training in brewing and in the merchant trade his vocal talent in the Munich commercial glee club was discovered in " The Bear". Thanks to a grant Kraus then studied singing with Anna Shimon - Regan (Munich) and later in Milan.

A first concert in Munich was followed by an engagement at Court and National Theater in Mannheim, where he made his debut as Tamino in The Magic Flute in March 1893. His performances as Erik, Stolzing, Siegmund and Siegfried at the Richard Wagner Festival in Bayreuth were enthusiastically celebrated for years. In an appearance in his hometown of Erlangen on November 6, 1906 Redoutensaal you cheered Kraus also frenetic. Guesting on stages in Graz, London, Paris, Prague, Sweden, Riga and New York. From 1896 Ernst Kraus held for over 25 years, the position of the First heroes tenor at the Berlin Court Opera. Kraus is one of the most important artists of the 20th century Wagner. With Enrico Caruso bound him a friendly relationship.

Ernst Kraus in 1923 returned to the stage back and devoted himself henceforth in Munich the training of singing talent. His son is the conductor Richard Kraus ( 1902-1978 ). In 1930, Kraus retired to his country seat at Worthsee in Munich, where he died at the age of 78 years.