Francisco Kraus Trujillo

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Francisco Kraus Trujillo (born October 21, 1926 is a Spanish baritone.

He was born in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (Canary Islands), Spain, on October 21, 1926. His father, Otto Kraus was born in Austria, Francisco was the first born of the Kraus-Trujillo family; soon would follow Alfredo, Enriqueta, Lola and Carmen. His father played Viennese Waltzes in his wonderful piano, and sang arias and art songs with a beautiful baritone voice.

Contents 1 Vocal technique 2 His career 3 Career in Venezuela, Singer and Voice Teacher 4 Complete recordings 5 References

[edit] Vocal technique

He and his brother Alfredo began their training with María Suárez Fiol, born in Madrid, 1897 – died in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 1987). The first songs in front of an audience, were in the house of his teacher, where Mrs Fiol organized benefit concerts. Started singing in the Choir of the School of the Heart of Maria, made an audition for Soloists in the Philharmonic Society of Las Palmas. After coming back from Barcelona, Francisco married, his fiancé Enedina Kraus. Studied Voice technique in Milan, with famous teacher and Soprano Mercedes Llopart. Mrs Llopart’s legacy of exquisite technique and knowledge of voice production, was passed to her students, Alfredo Kraus, Renata Scotto, Anna Moffo, Fiorenza Cossotto, Ivo Vinco, Greek soprano Elena Suliotis, Venezuelan coloratura soprano Cecilia Nuñez Albanese, and Francisco Kraus. Francisco’s baritone voice has a wide vocal range, up to a high C with powerful bright, dark, rich notes, placed high in the mask.

[edit] His career

In December 1960.Made his Debut in the “Teatro Comunale Giuseppe Verdi” in Trieste, with opera KHOVANTCHINA, Moussorgski, in the role of “Boyardo Chakloviti” and using the stage name of Franco di Marco. Later he continued singing “Enrico” Lucia di Lammermoor, “Valentin” of the opera Faust, and “Germont” La Traviata. Returned to Spain were he appeared with the “Festivales of Spain” in La Coruña. Made his debut in the “Teatro De La Zarzuela” in Madrid with the Compañia Lírica Nacional with great success. With this same Company he made a tour of Spain with identical results. In 1962 he formed his own company. For four years he toured all Spain, singing Spanish Operetta: La Bruja, La Tabernera del puerto, Katiuska, El huesped del sevillano, La Calesera, La Rosa del Azafrán, La del Soto del parral, and other works of the repertoire with artists like, Amparo Azcón, Celia Langa, Pilarín Alvarez, Rosa Gil, Fina Gessa, María Pastor, Eduardo Bermúdez, Enrique del Portal, José Luis Cancela y Andrés García Martí, under the baton of the Maestros Jose Terol and Mariano de las Heras. In June 1963, He performed in Madrid, several presentations of the Opera Marina,(Spanish composer Emilio Arrieta). The performances took place in El Parque del Retiro, with his brother Alfredo. In 1966 a contract with the company of Maria Francisca Caballer and Agustín Lisbona, to perform in the National Theater of Caracas, “Teatro Nacionál” took him to Venezuela for one long season. Returns to The Canary Islands, were he was dedicating more time to family matters. He takes a long break in his Career, he decided to leave the scene, but his love for his career did not keep him away for too long. Francisco continued performing and the abandonment of the Operatic scene was not total, since in the decade of 1970 he took part in several seasons of zarzuela with the Isaac Albéniz Company, of Juan Jose Seoane, all over Spain and the Spanish Islands.

[edit] Career in Venezuela, Singer and Voice Teacher

At the end of 1978 Kraus returned to Venezuela for a series of concerts and performances in Radio and Television. He performed in Teatro Municipal de Caracas with Opera Metropolitana de Caracas OMAC The Opera Marina, with Alfredo Kraus, soprano Cecilia Núñez Albanese and Cayito Aponte, with the Orquesta Filarmonica de Caracas. He had a series of concerts in Hogar Canario de Caracas, and Teatro Nacional. His brother Alfredo was very often performing in Caracas, Teatro Municipal, with OMAC. This time the stay would last nine years since, aside from his performances Kraus was offered the position as professor of vocal technique in the Superior School of Caracas, Escuela Superior de Musica J.A.Lamas and also in the Escuela de Música Prudencio Esaá. He was very active as a teacher, some of his students: Amelia Salazar, Natacha Valladares, Marisol Gil, Alfredo Olarte, Rosaura Longa, and Biella Dacosta. In 1987, returned to Spain to teach voice technique in the Conservatory of the “Gran Teatro del Liceu” in Media:Barcelona, were he was teaching until his retirement.

Retirement

His last public performance took place in La Palma de Gran Canaria, in 1996, were he was awarded with the Gold medal of the City. In July 2000 Kraus and his wife Enedina took the decision to be based definitively in the city were he was born. In November, 2000 Francisco Kraus received the tribute of the Canary Island “Friends of the Zarzuela”, who gave him a Plaque in recognition to his long career.

[edit] Complete recordings

La tempestad (1958), Marina (1963). Ed.: Carillón Video. Marina 1974 Teatro Municipal de Caracas. Omac.

“Selección de Zarzuelas”:

El cantar del arriero, La Calesera, El Caserío, El Huésped del sevillano, La Parranda, La Canción del olvido, Molinos de viento, Los Gavilanes, La del soto del parral. Ed.: Belter (1973). TV film, German TV ZDF Reiselust. “Gran Canaria”.

[edit] References

http://www.promocionlaspalmas.com/prensa.php?fot_seccion=2&id=675 María Suarez Fiol (Spanish)Las Palmas city Hall Ayuntamiento de Las Palmas. Tribute to Opera singers.

http://www.geocities.com/mcvr1234/krausf.htm

Antologia de la Opera en Caracas, Photoghapher Gilberto Noguera. Caracas, Venezuela.

Escuela de Musica Prudencio Esaa. Founded in 1970 Maestro Inocente Carreño Address:: Calle 1, Quinta Caniza Urb.: Montalbán Caracas, Venezuela

Escuela Superior de Musica J.A.Lamas Av.Urdaneta, Caracas, Dtto.Federal, Venezuela

Zarzuela History. Spanish Operetta

http://biblia.com/radio/zarzuela.htm#Reseña%20Histórica%20de%20la%20Zarzuela:Zarzuela in Spain Composers titles, history.