Alfredo Kraus was born in Las Palmas, in the Canary Islands, in 1927. His début was in Cairo as the Duke in Verdi's Rigoletto in 1956. He was soon appearing in various Italian opera houses, also in Spain and in 1959 he sang Edgardo opposite Joan Sutherland in Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor at Covent Garden. His début at la Scala in 1960 was as Elvino in Bellini's La Sonnambula.
He has appeared in a number of theatres in the U.S.A., his Metropolitan Opera début in 1966 being as the Duke in Giuseppe Verdi’s Rigoletto. He can be considered the finest light lyric tenor of his generation. His voice is smooth and bright with an upper extension to high D. He uses his voice with an impeccable style and elegance. His discretion in choice of repertoire and the correctness of his vocal schooling have resulted in his continuing to sing and record in his middle 60s with a voice apparently unimpaired.
