Death of a favourite Met mezzo, 94
RIPThe Wisconsin mezzo-soprano Jean Kraft, who died in New Jersey on July 15, performed with Santa Fe Opera from 1965 to 1987 and at the Met from 1970 to 1989 after Rudolf Bing persuaded her to turn down offers from Europe.
Her husband, Richard Elias, was a violinist in the Met Orchestra.
Her SF performances in Hindemith’s News of the Day were a legendary bit of singing/acting.
She sang Emilia on Domingo’s first studio Otello with Scotto, Milnes and Levine. RIP.
Husband Dick Elias, whom I knew, died in 2003. He was a good, kind-hearted person if memory serves. Kraft’s great ear enabled her to sing atonal roles.
Oh, so sad. I performed the Mahler Kindertotenlieder with her many years ago. She was superb.