Tom Krause
One of the most versatile artists of the 20th century's second half, baritone (or bass baritone) Tom Krause excelled in music from Bach to Britten, Mozart to Searle. Though not exceptionally large or sensuous, Krause's cleanly produced instrument never issued unpleasant sounds, and the singer's refined artistic instincts conspired to keep his work at a high level. Even in situations calling for a greater weight of voice than he really commanded, his clear diction and canny sensitivity to the right accents enabled him to give the impression of authority.
Krause intended to pursue a career in medicine in his native city, but found that a taste for light music and later, an interest in singing, were moving him toward a musical career. He entered the Vienna Music Academy in 1956, and upon completion of his studies there, made his debut in 1959 at Berlin's Städtische Oper. The role was Escamillo, an impersonation he was to record on two subsequent occasions. Early international exposure came through the Kurwenal he recorded with Solti and Birgit Nilsson. Numerous engagements followed at opera houses and concert stages throughout Middle Europe, and in 1962, Krause became a member of the company at Hamburg where he endeared himself to the public in Wagner, Verdi, and (especially) Mozart roles. After only five years, he was made a Kammersänger. For his home theater, he participated in the premieres of Ernst Krenek's Der Goldene Bock in 1964 and Humphrey Searle's Hamlet in 1968. Meanwhile, Krause had made his Bayreuth debut as the Herald in Lohengrin (1962) and the following year appeared at the Glyndebourne Festival for the first time as the Count in Strauss' Capriccio.
In the United States, Krause took part in the American premiere of Britten's War Requiem and made his Metropolitan Opera debut as Mozart's Almaviva on October 11, 1967. In six seasons, Krause was heard in 43 performances, including three other roles: Malatesta, Guglielmo, and Escamillo. The later was captured on disc together with Marilyn Horne's Carmen and James McCracken's massive Don José, all under Leonard Bernstein's revisionist eye. Chicago heard Krause as Guglielmo on-stage at the Lyric Opera and as a moving Christus in the Chicago Symphony Orchestra performances of Bach's St. Matthew Passion under Solti. Krause later participated in Solti's recording of the work.
Krause's Salzburg debut came in 1968 when he sang the title role in Don Giovanni, beginning a productive relationship with the festival. Thirty years after his first appearance, he sang in Salzburg's widely praised production of Messiaen's Saint François d'Assise. Paris heard Krause for the first time in 1973; La Scala welcomed him two years later. While heard to best advantage on-stage in Mozart, Krause made effective studies of such other roles as Pizzaro, Golaud, Amfortas, and portrayed a light-voiced but vivid Amonasro.
During his lengthy career, Krause made many studio recordings with first-class collaborators. His Pizzaro with Nilsson, McCracken, and a hard-driving Lorin Maazel is intimidatingly nasty. His numerous Bach recordings reveal a mellifluous voice and sympathetic interpretation joined with stylistic keenness. Both of his recorded Escamillos, if not the last word in bravura, show both dramatic flair and the ability to truly voice the many low-lying phrases. Finally, Krause's many recordings of German lieder and Scandinavian and Russian songs are the work of an insightful, engaging artist.
© TiVo
Discography
14 album(s) • Sorted by Bestseller
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Jean Sibelius : Songs
Elisabeth Söderström, Tom Krause, Irwin Gage, Vladimir Ashkenazy
Klassiek - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on 1 jan. 1984
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Berlioz: Roméo et Juliette; Symphonie funèbre et triomphale
Charles Dutoit, Florence Quivar, Alberto Cupido, Tom Krause, Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal
Klassiek - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on 1 sep. 1986
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Wolf: Italienisches Liederbuch
Elly Ameling, Irwin Gage, Tom Krause
Klassiek - Released by Globe on 1 jan. 1995
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Brahms: Ein Deutsches Requiem/Schicksalslied
Gundula Janowitz, Tom Krause, Wiener Staatsopernchor, Wiener Philharmonic Orchestra, Bernard Haitink
Klassiek - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on 1 jan. 1980
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Donizetti: Don Pasquale
Graziella Sciutti, Juan Oncina, Tom Krause, Fernando Corena, Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper, István Kertész
Klassiek - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on 1 jan. 1991
The Qobuz Essential Discography16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Haydn : Die Schöpfung - Messa brevis Sancti...
Elly Ameling, Werner Krenn, Tom Krause, Wiener Staatsopernchor, Wiener Philharmonic Orchestra, Karl Münchinger
Klassiek - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on 1 jan. 2012
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Fauré: Mélodies Vol. IV
Klassiek - Released by CRD Records on 21 aug. 2000
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Brahms: Ein deutsches Requiem, Op. 45 (Live)
The Cleveland Orchestra, Gundula Janowitz, Tom Krause, Cleveland Orchestra Chorus, George Szell
Klassiek - Released by Urania Records on 3 dec. 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Fauré - Melodies Vol. III
Klassiek - Released by CRD Records on 1 jan. 1994
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Tom Krause: The Heroic Baritone
Tom Krause, Wiener Opernorchester, Argeo Quadri
Klassiek - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on 1 jan. 1967
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Schumann : Dichterliebe - Brahms : Songs - Musorgsky : Songs and Dances of Death
Vocale muziek (wereldlijk en religieus) - Released by Fazer Records - Finlandia on 15 jul. 1991
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Sibelius : 25 Songs - Richard Strauss : 8 Lieder
Liederen - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on 1 jan. 2007
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mozart: Cosi Fan Tutte (Live in Salzburg, Recorded July 28, 1969)
Anneliese Rothenberger, Tom Krause, Lajos Kozma
Opera - Released by LRC Ltd. - Groove Merchant Records on 1 jan. 1985
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Beethoven: Fidelio
Birgit Nilsson, James McCracken, Tom Krause, Kurt Böhme, Wiener Philharmonic Orchestra, Lorin Maazel
Klassiek - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on 6 nov. 1964
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo