Death of a favourite Met mezzo, 94

Death of a favourite Met mezzo, 94

RIP

norman lebrecht

July 18, 2021

The 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.

 

 

Comments

  • Mark Powell says:

    Her SF performances in Hindemith’s News of the Day were a legendary bit of singing/acting.

  • Jack says:

    She sang Emilia on Domingo’s first studio Otello with Scotto, Milnes and Levine. RIP.

  • NYMike says:

    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.

  • Richard says:

    Oh, so sad. I performed the Mahler Kindertotenlieder with her many years ago. She was superb.

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